The trade association for the wine and liquor wholesalers industry -- a group that stands to lose big from direct sales of alcohol -- has released a study saying that 2 percent of 14- to 20-year-olds have purchased alcohol online.

Reuters reported Aug. 22 that a survey of 1,001 youths sponsored by the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) also reported that 12 percent of youths surveyed said they had friends who had bought alcohol online.

"This is a dangerous situation," said WSWA chair Stan Hastings. "For the first time, we have hard evidence that millions of kids are buying alcohol online and that the Internet is fast becoming a high-tech, low-risk way for kids to get beer, wine and liquor delivered to their home with no ID check."