Statistics on Underage Drinking
Outlining the Problem
Underage drinking is more common than you may think, and many underage drinkers get their alcohol from a surprising place:
- Home is the main source of alcohol for teenagers and pre-teens, both with and without parent approval.
- Drinking is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined.
- People who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence at some time in their lives, compared with those who have their first drink at age 21 or older.
- Only three out of ten parents of 15- to 16-year-olds believe their child had a drink in the past year, even though six out of ten teens reported that they had a drink.
- Two out of three teens say it is easy to get alcohol from their homes without parents knowing it.
- One-third of teens say it’s easy to get alcohol from parents who agree to give it to them.
Underage drinking is a common problem in Vermont:
- Three out of four Vermont teens obtain alcohol by someone giving it to them or having someone buy it for them.
- At least one of every three Vermont students between grades 8 and 12 reported drinking alcohol during the past 30 days.
- One out of every five Vermont students between grades 8 and 12 have binged on alcohol (five or more drinks in two hours) in the past 30 days.
- Only one out of four Vermont teens think that drinking alcohol daily could be harmful to their health.
Studies show that underage drinking is a nationwide problem:
- The average age girls start drinking is 13 years old. The average age that boys start drinking is 11 years old.
- 10 percent of those aged 16 and 17.7 percent of those aged 19 or 20 are classified as having an alcohol disorder.
- 16 percent of teenagers who drink have experienced a blackout.
References & Citations
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