Statistics on Teenage Alcoholism

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Teenage Alcohol Use Statistics

binge drinking by young people

According to the Center of Disease Control alcohol use is a leading risk factor in the three leading causes of death among youth: unintentional injuries (including motor vehicle crashes and drownings); suicides; and homicides. Other adverse consequences of underage drinking include risky sexual behavior and poor school performance (CDC, YRBS, 2001).

Current alcohol use statistics for teenagers:

In 2005, rates of current alcohol use were for teenagers stood at 4.2 percent for 12 and 13 year olds; 15.1 percent for youth 14 or 15; 30.1 percent for 16 or 17 year olds, and 51.1 percent of those aged 18 to 20.

In 2003, 44.9% of 9th through 12th graders reported drinking alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days; prevalence of current drinking was higher for females (45.8%) than among males (43.8%) (CDC, YRBS, 2003).

Binge Drinking Rates for Teens:
Rates of binge alcohol use in 2005 were 2.0 percent among 12 or 13 year olds, 8.0 percent among 14 or 15 year olds, 19.7 percent among 16 or 17 year olds, 36.1 percent among persons aged 18 to 20,

In 2003, 28.3% of 9th through 12th graders reported binge drinking (having five or more drinks of alcohol in a row or within a couple of hours) at least once during the past 30 days. The prevalence of binge drinking was higher for males (29%) than among females (27.5%) (CDC, YRBS, 2003).

Teenage Alcohol Use by Race:
Among persons aged 12 to 20, past month alcohol use rates were 12.0 percent among Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, 15.5 percent among Asians, 19.0 percent among blacks, 21.7 percent among American Indians or Alaska Natives, 24.0 percent among those reporting two or more races, 25.9 percent among Hispanics, and 32.3 percent among whites.

Among persons aged 12 to 20, binge drinking was reported by 22.3 percent of whites, 18.1 percent of American Indians or Alaska Natives, 17.9 percent of Hispanics, and 16.6 percent of persons reporting two or more races, but only by 7.4 percent of Asians, 8.4 percent of Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders, and 9.1 percent of blacks.

Geographic Teen Alcohol Use:
Across geographic regions in 2005, underage current alcohol use rates were higher in the Northeast (31.4 percent) and Midwest (31.0 percent) than in the South (26.4 percent) and the West (26.0 percent). This pattern has remained essentially the same since 2002.

In 2005, underage current alcohol use rates were similar in small metropolitan areas (29.5 percent), large metropolitan areas (27.6 percent), and nonmetropolitan areas (27.9 percent). The rate in nonmetropolitan rural areas was 23.1 percent.

Zero tolerance laws:
ZTL's make it illegal for youth under age 21 years to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system (i.e., with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) =0.02 g/dL), have reduced traffic fatalities among 18 to 20 year olds by 13% and saved an estimated 21,887 lives from 1975 through 2002 (NHTSA, 1997).