Alcohol Addiction in Teenagers & Young Adults: Stats, Risks, & Prevention

Updated Feb 2, 2023

Although the legal drinking age in the United States is 21, many young adults have had alcohol before they reach that age. Underage drinking is a nationwide problem, and in 2019, 7 million people between the ages of 12-20 reported that they drank “more than just a few sips” of alcohol.¹ While this may not seem dire, early use and misuse of alcohol in teenagers and young adults can lead to serious problems including issues later in life.

Young Adult & Teen Alcohol Use Statistics

Underage drinking is a significant health problem in the United States.² Annually, excessive underage alcohol consumption causes 3,900 deaths.³ What’s more, alcohol continues to be the most common substance used by U.S. youth, with a higher proportion of underaged individuals using alcohol instead of tobacco, marijuana, or other drugs.⁴

Underage alcohol use begins early, with 15% of those who reported drinking underage saying they started before they were 13 years of age.⁵ Additionally, about 2.3 million teens between 12 and 17 years of age tried alcohol for the first time in 2019.⁶ This startling statistic equates to 6,200 teens using alcohol every day in 2019.⁶

The prevalence of young adult and teen alcohol abuse varies greatly by age group. For example, 46% of 16-17 year olds reported using alcohol once in their lives, while only 25% of 14-15 year olds reported that they have tried alcohol once in their lives.⁷ By the 8^th grade, about 1 in 4 (24%) of students had used alcohol, and by the end of 12^th grade, 59% of students had done so.⁸ Of college-aged students (18-24), 53% reported drinking alcohol within the past month.

When it comes to young adult and teenage alcohol abuse, binge drinking is a major issue. In fact, binge drinking, which is defined as drinking five or more drinks per occasion for men and four or more drinks for women, typically begins in adolescence.¹²Underage drinkers (aged 12-20) typically drink 4-5 drinks per occasion, which is almost double the 2-3 drinks adults (older than 25) drinks. Most alcohol consumption by underage drinkers takes place during “binge” episodes with more than 90% of all alcoholic drinks consumed by teens and young adults through binge drinking.^12,13Binge drinking can be especially dangerous for teens and young adults because it is associated with health risks including alcohol poisoning, blackouts and injury, car accidents and deaths, and physical and sexual assault.¹²

Why Is Drinking in Teens & Young Adults So Common

There are many different reasons why teens and young adults consume alcohol. Some of the reasons for underage drinking and alcohol abuse in young adults include:¹⁰

Peer pressure & acceptance: If teens and young adults see peers drinking, they’ll want to also drink to be included and have a social life.
Mental health & self-medicating: Alcohol use and mental health are often connected. Teens and young adults may be experiencing difficulties at school or home—bullying, divorce, moving, loneliness—and they may decide to drink alcohol to try to manage their struggles.
Stress: Life can be challenging for adolescents with worries about academics, extracurriculars, and their future, so they may use alcohol to cope.
Pop culture: Drinking is often in advertising. Commercials and ads show attractive people enjoying themselves and having fun and that is appealing to young people.
Curiosity: Teens and young adults may find themselves curious about the effects of alcohol and so they may engage in experimentation.
Rebellion: Adolescents may want to act out, to pull away from their parents, and drinking alcohol can be seen as a rebellious act.
Openness to risk: Teens and young adults have brains that are not fully developed so they may not have the ability to fully understand the risk they are putting themselves at when they drink alcohol. In fact, they are often more likely to engage in risky behavior.

Signs of Teenage Alcohol Abuse

As a parent or guardian, you may start to notice certain warning signs if your teen is consuming alcohol. Those signs may be obvious or there may be more subtle signs that they are engaging in risky behavior. It is important to pay attention to your child and be involved in their life so that you can pick up on those signs.

Some potential signs of teenage alcohol abuse can include:¹³

Smelling of alcohol
Slurred speech
Struggling to remember or concentrate
Lying about where they were or what they were doing
Detachment
Loss of interest in activities they previously cared about
Struggling academically and/or behaviorally at school
Changing friends
Mood changes (anger and irritability)
Lethargy

It may be hard to determine if your teens behavior is tied to drinking because of “normal” teenage behavior, but it is important to pay close attention to try to figure out what is the cause of their behavior. It is important to help your loved before the issue becomes more serious. If you are worried that your teen or young adult has an issue with alcohol, take our alcohol assessment to find out more.

Young Adult & Teen Drinking Dangers

Teen alcohol use is common, but it is also incredibly dangerous. Underage drinking is tied to a wide range of health and social risks, which include:^4,10,11,13

Death from vehicle crashes: Underage people who drink are at a great risk for motor vehicle accidents. In 2019, around 59% of unintentional deaths for those aged 12-20 were from motor vehicle accidents.
Violence: Underage drinking, especially binge drinking, increases the chances of alcohol-related violence. Individuals may be the victim or instigator of physical or sexual assault.
Accidental injuries: Alcohol increases the chance of being injured or killed accidentally. In 2019, 2,225 youth ages 12-20 died from unintentional deaths caused by incidents such as alcohol poisoning, drowning, falls, and burns.
Legal problems: The legal penalty for consuming alcohol as a minor can be severe. Punishments depend on the state but can include fines, community service, and educational courses. These consequences can also go on a permanent record and negatively impact the person’s future.
Risky sexual activity: Drinking alcohol may lead to poor decision making, including regarding unsafe sexual behavior. It may lead to unprotected sex, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections.
Brain impairment: Because the potential effects of alcohol on the brain and that brain development continues into a person’s 20s, young people who drink a lot may alter their brain function and structure. Alcohol use may cause learning or cognitive problems and could increase the likelihood an alcohol use disorder will develop in adulthood.
Alcohol poisoning: With the consumption of large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning—when the body is poisoned by alcohol—may occur. This can lead to difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, seizures, and even death.
Academic problems: Teens and young adults who drink regularly may struggle in school. They may have problems focusing on their classes and studying. Loss of concentration could also lead to a decline in grades and performance.
Suicide: In 2019, suicide was the leading cause of death for people 12-20, and alcohol plays a major role in suicide attempts and completions.
Alcohol dependence: Early alcohol use is associated with the development of an alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life.

Treating & Preventing Alcohol Addiction in Young Adults

If your teen struggles with alcohol use or alcohol addiction, or if you’re looking for ways to prevent underage drinking, there are things that you can do. In terms of prevention, parents can highlight the dangers of teen alcohol use and help their children understand the science behind addiction. Practicing early intervention and prevention is key in helping teens understand the dangers of consuming alcohol while underage and helping them keep up healthy habits.

If your teen does have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, or you believe they have an AUD, it may be time to help get them treatment for alcohol addiction. Involving them in the decision-making and speaking to them as an adult can go a long way in getting them on board if treatment is the best route to take.

If treatment is the best option for your teen, know that AUD is a treatable disease. You’ll need to look for teen rehab centers, as not every rehab facility offers treatment for teenagers or young adults. You may want to investigate outpatient programming, depending on the severity of your teen’s AUD, as it may allow them to remain in school while still getting the care they need. If you have health insurance, rehab costs may be covered, but it’s important to verify your insurance before entering care.

Find Out if Your Insurance Plan Covers Alcohol Addiction Rehab

American Addiction Centers can provide help and support to to those who are struggling with teenage alcohol abuse, young adult alcohol abuse, and AUD. To find out if your insurance covers alcohol addiction treatment at an American Addiction Centers facility, click here or fill out the form below. Your information is kept 100% confidential.