Alcohol use is present in many places, including commercials, concessions at sporting and other entertainment events, billboards, and social circles. Commercial marketing campaigns often suggest that alcohol makes life more fun and enjoyable, while minimizing risks related to safety, medical, and behavioral health concerns. Teens and young adults are processing this information with developing brains, which may have difficulty filtering information and weighing consequences of potentially harmful behaviors. For years, caregivers have been navigating this complex topic with their teens and as they transition into young adults. Lately, I’ve had several such conversations with my boys, ages 15 and 17, prompting me to consult science for more information and reach out to other parents for advice. Let me share here what science tells us.
How common is alcohol use in youth and emerging adults?
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, underage alcohol use remains common, with 27% of youth ages 12 to 20 reporting at least one drink in the past year. A little over 22% of high school students have had a drink in the past month, with 9% engaging in binge drinking during this time. This increases in college students, with almost half drinking alcohol and almost 30% engaging in binge drinking within the past month.
Who is at risk for alcohol use?
- More high school girls than boys drink and binge drink
- Teens with other behavioral health concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Teens whose parents binge drink alcohol (4 times greater risk)
- Teens of parents who have more than 5 drinks of alcohol in a month
- Teens with family conflict
- Individuals who drank alcohol in high school are more likely to drink excessive amounts of alcohol in college
- Individuals who are likely to be influenced by peer pressure
What are some alcohol-related consequences in teens and emerging adults?
- Violence, including homicide, suicide, and sexual assault
- Academic concerns, including missed school, lower grades
- Delayed brain development and memory problems
- Increased risk of excessive alcohol use and substance use disorder in adulthood
- Sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancy
- Injury (e.g., burns, drowning, motor vehicle accidents), medical complications (e.g., alcohol poisoning) and death
Common misperceptions regarding underage alcohol use
- Everyone is doing it. According to youth reports on national surveys, 78% of high school students have not had a drink of alcohol in the past month. In contrast, youth greatly overestimate how many of their peers are drinking.
- It won’t happen to me. Continued frontal lobe brain development through the late teens and early 20s is related to impulsive and risk-taking behaviors. Compounded with feelings of invincibility, youth may be nonchalant about putting themselves in unsafe situations. About 16% of high school youth report riding in the past month with someone who had been drinking. I frequently speak in local classes that teens and adults are mandated to participate in following a driving under the influence charge. Each time I ask who planned on being there. No one has ever raised their hand.
- Caregiver supervision of underage drinking will teach youth to be responsible with alcohol as adults. In fact, research in the United States, Europe, and Australia has shown that caregiver supervision of underage drinking is associated with alcohol misuse and alcohol impaired driving in young adulthood.
I previously mentioned that I speak to teens and adults who have been charged with driving while impaired. I encourage these individuals who have put their own and others’ lives in danger to take the second chance they have been given and live more safely. I have this opportunity because I know too well the dangers of drinking and driving. My sibling was killed by a drunk driver. This person began engaging in excessive drinking as a teen and young adult, continuing into adulthood and interfering with relationships and employment. This person served years in jail and will live the rest of his life with the reality that he killed someone. It does happen. It happened to me.
How can I protect youth from alcohol misuse and its consequences?
- Talk early and often about the dangers of underage alcohol use and alcohol misuse. Youth are curious, and conversations over time, especially those that happen outside of crisis situations, will foster communication and equip youth with knowledge. Consider focusing on the biological impact on the brain and body and how it can interfere with relationships, not the legal and moral considerations.
- Be aware of and monitor a youth’s activities, who they hang out with, mood, behavior, etc. Note any changes. Promote healthy ways of coping. Check out our previous blog for more ways to support youth behavioral health.
- In general, encourage healthy behaviors across sleep, nutrition, physical activity and sports, and social engagement and screen use Talk about how these behaviors promote health in contrast to how risky behaviors affect the body and brain.
- Emphasize safety. Whatever your position is on underage drinking, everyone can agree that safety is critical. Help the youth to understand that it’s too late to make a decision about your ability to drive after you’ve started drinking. Consider offering emergency rides to your teens and their friends. Provide and promote options for youth to socialize without alcohol. Share knowledge with parents of your youth’s friends.
Additional Resources
- For more information on how to talk with teens about alcohol use, https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/turrisi-advises-parents-new-video-series-about-teen-alcohol-use
- For substance use crises and urgent concerns, dial 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/
Providers supporting youth with substance use concerns can turn to PracticeWise Evidence-Based Services (PWEBS) to identify evidence-informed approaches that address alcohol misuse. By selecting the Substance Use target area, providers can explore practices shown to reduce substance use, strengthen coping skills, and improve engagement with both youth and caregivers. Family involvement is often a critical component of effective treatment, and the Core Elements of Family Therapy (CEFT) resource offers practical, research-backed guidance for engaging caregivers, addressing family conflict, and supporting behavior change in adolescents.
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About the Author
Janelle Wagner Ph.D., serves on the Professional Development Team as an Associate Trainer and Senior Consultant for PracticeWise. Learn more about Dr. Wagner on the PracticeWise team page.
