Questions regarding purchasing and proofing practices were asked for all possible choices of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, wine coolers or liquor) and each possible purchase site (bar, club, restaurant, store, or liquor store). About one out of every 6 persons aged 16-20 years reported purchasing alcohol at least once in the month prior to the Youth Alcohol Survey. Beer was the beverage of choice, and stores were preferable to bars as a purchase site, although half of the underage purchasers succeeded in purchasing alcohol in a bar. It appears that 16-20 year olds are only being proofed about half the time, regardless of where they attempt to purchase alcohol. Even when proofing does occur, approximately 40 to 55 percent of the underage respondents still succeed in purchasing alcohol, largely due to the use of phony proof. 2 notes