There are a huge number of studies on underage drinking that I hope to be adding.  They show that there is a very powerful age effect for alcoholism: The earlier one starts drinking, the more likely one is to become a problem drinker and an alcoholic.

Underage Use:

Up 300% in U.S. in 25 Years: Any use at age 15 is three times higher (33%) for those turning 15 from 1986-90 than for those turning 15 in 1965 or before (9-11%). Regular use also tripled (6% v. 2%). Am J Publ Health 1/98 88:27-30. Underage tobacco has been steady for 15-year-olds since 1956 ranging from 34% to 39% and was 24% even in 1934. Marijuana for 15-yar-olds rose abruptly around 1970 with under 1% before 1965 to 12% in 1971-5. RA Johnson, Am J Publ Health 1/98, 88:27-33.

Binge Drinking Highest Away from Parents: Harvard survey questioned 10,000 students at 119 four-year colleges, and defined binge drinking as four or more drinks in a row for women, or five or more for men. Out of the traditional college students who drink - 18- to 23-year-olds not living with their parents - seven out of 10 said they had met that definition of binge drinking in the past 30 days. For all students, binge drinking was 44%, unchanged since 1993. Binge drinking at girl colleges was up from 24% to 32% since 1993. Abstinence up to 19% from 16%. Alcohol free dorms up 75%. Frats and sororities down somewhat. AP 3/25/02

European Youths Drink More: US Justice Dept Office of Juvenile Justice analysis of European and US data found more European youths drank in last 30 days than American, a greater percentage reported having five or more drinks in a row, and about half of European countries have intoxication rates for young higher than US. Dept of Justice disputes idea that more liberal drinking age fosters more responsible habits. AP 7/20/01.

Young Users More Injury as adults: Compared to those who begin drinking at the legal age of 21, those who begin drinking regularly before the age of 14 are three times more likely to develop alcohol dependence during their lifetimes and 12 times more likely to get injured. Unintended injuries are the leading cause of death among people up to age 34. In 1997, there were 92,253 deaths in the United States caused by unintentional injuries, JAMA 9/27/00. Of those deaths, almost half were in motor vehicle accidents and the rest died in falls, by drowning, from burns or from unintended gunshot wounds. In both crashes and other causes, alcohol was involved in roughly 38 percent of cases. Survey of 42,000 adults, in 1992 by U.S. Census Bureau, found early-onset drinkers much more likely to put themselves in harm's way.

Binge Drinking in Teens May Lead to Obesity: A study interviewing 800 Seattle school children were interviewed annually starting at age 13 through age 16 and again at ages 18, 21 and 24 found that people who began binge drinking (5 or more drinks) at age 13 and continued throughout adolescence were nearly four times as likely to be overweight or obese and almost 3 times as likely to have high blood pressure when they were 24 years old than were people who never or rarely drank heavily during adolescence. Adolescent binge drinking also results in a number of immediate negative consequences, including involvement in fatal or injurious automobile accidents and engaging in risky sexual behavior. Karl Hill, U Washington. 7/8/04.

Thomas E. Radecki, M.D., J.D.

modern-psychiatry.com