Alcohol likely is the most socially acceptable, accessible and cheap substance available for teenagers to abuse.

In fact, 45 percent of middle school students and more than 80 percent of high school students surveyed in the Roanoke area said alcohol is "very easy" to obtain. The data come from a youth risk behavior survey issued to thousands of students in Botetourt, Craig and Roanoke counties, Roanoke and Salem.

At a town hall meeting Tuesday evening at Virginia Western Community College, nearly two dozen students had a lot to say about where underage youth get alcohol and why they drink.

"Most teens drink at their parents' house while they're not there or at their friends' house," said Destinnee Dixon, a senior at Northside High School.

"When I go to my friend's house, I see there is beer in the fridge ... we could just go to the fridge and grab a beer," said Sarah Murphy, a junior at Cave Spring High School.

Brent Watts, a WDBJ (Channel 7) meteorologist, moderated the forum hosted by the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Council, the Roanoke County Prevention Council and Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare.

More than 70 percent of students (in a smaller survey by RAYSAC) said they drink to have a good time at parties. Other reasons cited include boredom, depression, peer pressure and rebellion.

Amondre Smith, a student at William Fleming High School, said alcohol is always available for teens, but use seems to increase around high school proms. He said many teenagers believe a "successful prom night" must include alcohol, drugs and sex.

The risk survey found that one in four high school students reported binge drinking, or having five or more drinks in a single sitting. Of the middle school students surveyed, 13 percent said they had at least one drink in the past 30 days.

The RAYSAC survey concluded that about 70 percent of respondents favored new or stiffer penalties for adults or parents who serve or purchase alcohol for underage youth.

Virginia lawmakers approved a number of underage drinking laws during this year's General Assembly session. Gov. Bob McDonnell signed those earlier this month and the new laws will be effective July 1, including:

-- House Bill 862, sponsored by Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge County, gives a juvenile domestic relations court judge the jurisdiction to dismiss a charge of underage alcohol possession or consumption upon completing probation. Previously the law allowed an automatic dismissal.

-- House Bill 863, also introduced by Cline, prohibits the issuance of a restricted driver's license to youth under 18 who have been convicted of driving under the influence or refused a test to measure blood-alcohol content.

-- House Bill 1293, introduced by Del. Bill Cleaveland, R-Botetourt County, which restricts parents or other adults from purchasing alcohol for underage youth to be consumed outside the purchaser's residence.

Judge Philip Trompeter of the Roanoke Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court said alcohol and drugs are "the number one scourge" affecting today's youth.

"I think parents have to come to grips this is not a moral issue to our community. It is a health issue," he said.

The impetus for Tuesday's gathering, which drew an audience of more than 100 people, was to seek strategies for community change.

Suggested avenues included reducing access to alcohol, changing consequences, controlling advertising and changing policies to make it difficult for underage youth to consume alcohol.