Youthful Drinking: Past and Present

Abstract

The U.S.A. is an alcohol consuming country; our society considers the use of alcohol socially acceptable. It should not surprise us that the majority of our adolescent population consumes alcohol. In fact, the initial drinking experience usually takes place around thirteen years of age, in the home with parents or other adult authority figures (e.g., relatives) present The reasons for the initial consumption of alcohol are family reasons for alcohol use. As the adolescent matures, more and more drinking situations occur outside of the home with friends. This period of time is often characterized by drinking habits, patterns, and attitudes which are different from those of the parent population; the peer group and situational factors are significant influences on drinking behavior during this phase. Though alcohol use is usually motivated by the same reasons provided for most adult drinking (e.g., to be social, to consume a beverage, etc.), drinking to intoxication is often considered acceptable. As adolescents mature and develop into independent adult status, drinking often again resembles the drinking norms of the parent population. As in many life areas, we teach our children as we have been taught.