Damon Christiansen
Teen Drinking
8 facts of teen drinking
Here is some facts of teen drinking.
- In 2012, nearly three-quarters of students (72 percent) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by the end of high school, and more than a third (37 percent) have done so by eighth grade.
- According to a study by Columbia University, underage drinkers account for 11.4 percent of all of the alcohol consumed in the U.S.
- The average age teen boys first try alcohol is age 11, for teen girls it’s 13.
- Nearly 10 million young people, ages 12 to 20, reported that they’ve consumed alcohol in the past 30 days.
- Teens who start drinking before age 15 years are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after the legal age of 21.
- The rate of current alcohol consumption increases with age, according to the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, from 2 percent at age 12 to 21 percent at age 16, and 55 percent at age 20.
- 9 out of 10 American teens report that drinking is not worth the consequences it can cause.
- In 2010, 56 percent of drivers aged 15 to 20 who were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt.