Underage drinking is widespread and continues to increase:
12th graders—Three out of every four (75%) have consumed alcohol.
10th graders—Two out of every three (67%)
8th graders—Two out of every five 8th graders (40%)
When youth drink, they tend to drink excessively:
12th graders—29% had engaged in episodes of binge drinking in the past two weeks
10th graders—22%
8th graders—11%
More drinking to excess:
10th graders—41% reported to have been drunk at least once
8th graders—18%
Teenage girls are as likely to be involved in drinking as teen boys:
36.2% of 9th grade girls reported drinking in the past month; 36.3 percent of boys
17.3% of 9th grade girls reported binge drinking; 20.7 percent of boys
Rates of teen drinking differ among ethnic groups:
30% of non-Hispanic white high school students reported binge drinking.
11% of African American students
25% of Hispanic students
Young people aged 12–20 consume almost 20% of the alcohol consumed in the United States.
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47% became alcohol-dependent at some point, compared with 9% of those who began drinking at age 21 or older.
