This document presents the testimony of Surgeon General Antonia Novello of the U.S. Public Health Service, and related materials from a congressional hearing examining underage drinking. In her opening statement, Chairwoman Patricia Schroeder reviews the incidence of underage drinking and notes the role of the advertising industry in promoting drinking. Surgeon General Novello's testimony notes the pervasiveness of underage drinking and discusses the problems created by exposing adolescents to mixed messages on drinking. Novello contrasts the health message that the use of alcohol by young people can lead to serious health consequences with the advertising messages that promote drinking. She examines the problem of labeling that makes it difficult to distinguish alcoholic from nonalcoholic beverages on store shelves; designated drivers, and teenagers who ride with drinking drivers; and adolescents' lack of knowledge about alcohol. Actions taken by the Surgeon General to combat the problem of underage drinking are reviewed, and the problems encountered in enforcing the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 are discussed. Novello describes actions taken by individual states to prevent underage drinking. The role of advertising in promoting underage drinking is emphasized throughout the document. Included in the document are a fact sheet on preventing underage drinking; the prepared statement of Michael Kavanaugh, sheriff of Roanoke County, Virginia; comments by John Calfee, associate professor of Marketing, School of Management, Boston University; and a report from the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (NB)