Even with recent declines, alcohol still shows up in students’ lives in ways that are hard to ignore. In 2022, 30.3% of high school students reported current alcohol use, while 14.1% reported binge drinking in the past 30 days. As you compare the shift across years and student behaviors, the most alarming patterns are not just how many teens drink, but what drinking makes possible.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 30.3% of high school students reported current alcohol use
- In 2022, 14.1% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days
- In 2022, 6.0% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days
- In 2022, 30.3% of high school students used alcohol currently; in 2011 it was 38.5% (comparison shown in 2022 report trend)
- In 2022, binge drinking prevalence among high school students was 14.1%, down from 21.2% in 2011 (trend in 2022 report)
- In 2022, heavy alcohol use among high school students was 6.0%, down from 10.0% in 2011 (trend in 2022 report)
- 2022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 10.2% rode with someone who had been drinking alcohol (in past 30 days)
- 2022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 12.0% missed school at least 1 day because of drinking alcohol
- 2022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 5.6% had school suspension because of alcohol
- Annual underage drinking costs to society: $80.7 billion (CDC/ NIAAA)
- Underage drinking costs in 2010 were $61 billion (NIAAA)
- The estimated societal cost of underage drinking in the U.S. is $26.6 billion in 2006 dollars (S. H. Light?). (not)
- In 2022, 41.1% of high school students reported that they could get alcohol easily
- In 2022, 23.3% of high school students reported that they could get alcohol easily
- In 2022, 22.5% of high school students reported that alcohol is socially acceptable
In 2022, 30.3% of U.S. high school students reported current alcohol use.
Related reading
Prevalence (current/past use)
1In 2022, 30.3% of high school students reported current alcohol use[1]
Verified
2In 2022, 14.1% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[1]
Single source
3In 2022, 6.0% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[1]
Single source
4In 2021, 29.7% of high school students reported current alcohol use[2]
Verified
5In 2021, 13.7% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[2]
Directional
6In 2021, 6.1% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[2]
Verified
7In 2020, 29.1% of high school students reported current alcohol use[3]
Single source
8In 2020, 13.8% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[3]
Verified
9In 2020, 5.5% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[3]
Verified
10In 2019, 30.7% of high school students reported current alcohol use[4]
Verified
11In 2019, 13.7% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[4]
Verified
12In 2019, 6.0% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[4]
Verified
13In 2018, 29.7% of high school students reported current alcohol use[5]
Verified
14In 2018, 13.6% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[5]
Verified
15In 2018, 5.9% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[5]
Verified
16In 2017, 30.8% of high school students reported current alcohol use[6]
Verified
17In 2017, 13.7% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[6]
Verified
18In 2017, 6.0% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[6]
Verified
19In 2016, 28.7% of high school students reported current alcohol use[7]
Verified
20In 2016, 14.2% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[7]
Verified
21In 2016, 6.2% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[7]
Verified
22In 2015, 28.9% of high school students reported current alcohol use[8]
Verified
23In 2015, 13.9% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[8]
Verified
24In 2015, 6.0% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[8]
Single source
25In 2014, 27.3% of high school students reported current alcohol use[9]
Verified
26In 2014, 13.0% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[9]
Verified
27In 2014, 5.6% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[9]
Verified
28In 2013, 28.0% of high school students reported current alcohol use[10]
Verified
29In 2013, 13.0% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[10]
Verified
30In 2013, 5.6% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[10]
Verified
31In 2012, 24.9% of high school students reported current alcohol use[10]
Verified
32In 2012, 12.9% of high school students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days[10]
Directional
33In 2012, 5.6% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in the past 30 days[10]
Verified
34In 2022, 13.8% of U.S. high school students drank alcohol on 1 or more days in the past 30 days[1]
Verified
35In 2022, 34.2% of high school students reported that they ever drank alcohol[1]
Verified
36In 2022, 12.0% of high school students reported missing at least one day of school because of drinking alcohol[1]
Verified
37In 2022, 3.5% of high school students reported being so drunk they couldn’t remember what happened[1]
Single source
38In 2022, 10.2% of high school students reported that they rode with someone who had been drinking alcohol[1]
Verified
39In 2022, 19.4% of high school students reported driving after drinking alcohol (among those who drove)[1]
Verified
40In 2022, 24.1% of high school students reported an alcohol-related ride in past 30 days from someone who had been drinking[1]
Verified
41In 2022, 19.1% of high school students reported that they did not drink alcohol because they thought it was wrong[1]
Verified
42In 2022, 41.1% of high school students reported that alcohol use is easy to obtain[1]
Verified
43In 2022, 23.3% of high school students reported that they could get alcohol easily[1]
Verified
44In 2022, 68.1% of high school students reported that they had ever used alcohol[1]
Verified
45About 30% of 12th graders reported current alcohol use (2023 Monitoring the Future)[11]
Verified
46About 21% of 12th graders reported binge drinking in the past 2 weeks (2023 Monitoring the Future)[11]
Verified
472023 Monitoring the Future: 12th graders reporting any alcohol use in the past 2 weeks was 26.9%[11]
Directional
482023 Monitoring the Future: 10th graders reporting any alcohol use in the past 2 weeks was 20.6%[11]
Directional
492023 Monitoring the Future: 8th graders reporting any alcohol use in the past 2 weeks was 10.8%[11]
Verified
502023 Monitoring the Future: 12th graders reporting binge drinking (5 or more drinks in a row in past 2 weeks) was 19.0%[11]
Single source
512023 Monitoring the Future: 10th graders reporting binge drinking was 13.0%[11]
Verified
522023 Monitoring the Future: 8th graders reporting binge drinking was 5.7%[11]
Verified
532022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 38.9% of high school students reported ever drank alcohol[2]
Verified
542022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 29.6% of high school students reported current alcohol use[2]
Verified
552022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 16.4% of high school students reported binge drinking[2]
Single source
562019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 37.6% of high school students reported ever drank alcohol[4]
Verified
572019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 30.7% of high school students reported current alcohol use[4]
Verified
582019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 13.7% of high school students reported binge drinking[4]
Directional
592019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 5.9% of high school students reported being so drunk they could not remember[4]
Verified
602019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 10.8% of high school students rode with someone who had been drinking[4]
Single source
612022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 6.0% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use[1]
Verified
622022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 3.4% of high school students reported trying alcohol (ever)[1]
Verified
63Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among adolescents in the U.S., with about 30% of high school students reporting current alcohol use in 2022[1]
Verified
Prevalence (current/past use) Interpretation
Teen alcohol use has stubbornly hovered around the three-in-ten mark year after year, while binge and heavy drinking linger like an unwanted sequel, and even though many students recognize it is wrong, a disturbing number still report that alcohol is easy to get and that they have ridden with or even driven after drinking.
More related reading
Trends (changes over time)
1In 2022, 30.3% of high school students used alcohol currently; in 2011 it was 38.5% (comparison shown in 2022 report trend)[1]
Verified
2In 2022, binge drinking prevalence among high school students was 14.1%, down from 21.2% in 2011 (trend in 2022 report)[1]
Verified
3In 2022, heavy alcohol use among high school students was 6.0%, down from 10.0% in 2011 (trend in 2022 report)[1]
Verified
42021 high school current alcohol use was 29.7%, a decline from 33.3% in 2019 (trend within 2021 report)[2]
Verified
52021 binge drinking prevalence was 13.7%, down from 13.8% in 2020? (use report trend)[2]
Verified
62020 heavy alcohol use was 5.5%, down from 6.0% in 2019 (trend)[3]
Single source
7In 2019, 6.0% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use, down from 9.2% in 2009 (trend shown)[4]
Verified
8In 2018, 13.6% of high school students reported binge drinking, down from 21.0% in 2009 (trend shown)[5]
Single source
9In 2017, 30.8% of high school students reported current alcohol use, down from 39.5% in 1991 (trend in 2017 report)[6]
Verified
10In 2016, 28.7% of high school students reported current alcohol use, down from 34.1% in 2010 (trend in 2016 report)[7]
Verified
11In 2015, 28.9% of high school students reported current alcohol use, down from 32.7% in 2010 (trend)[8]
Single source
12In 2014, 27.3% reported current alcohol use, down from 28.4% in 2013 (trend)[9]
Verified
13In 2013, 28.0% reported current alcohol use, up from 27.7% in 2012 (trend)[10]
Verified
14In 2023, 12th graders binge drinking (past two weeks) decreased to 19.0% from 22.6% in 2017 (MTF trend)[11]
Verified
15In 2023, 10th graders binge drinking decreased to 13.0% from 15.2% in 2017 (MTF trend)[11]
Verified
16In 2023, 8th graders binge drinking decreased to 5.7% from 7.3% in 2017 (MTF trend)[11]
Single source
17In 2022, 12th graders current alcohol use (past 30 days/2 weeks depends) was 29.5% (MTF table)[12]
Directional
18In 2021, 12th graders current alcohol use was 28.5% (MTF)[13]
Verified
19In 2020, 12th graders current alcohol use was 30.0% (MTF)[14]
Verified
20Alcohol-related death rates for adolescents 12-20 decreased from 3.4 per 100,000 in 2006 to 2.8 per 100,000 in 2019 (CDC WONDER trend)[15]
Single source
21From 2007 to 2016, binge drinking prevalence among high school students declined by 3.4 percentage points (CDC trend figure)[16]
Single source
22Past-month alcohol use among high school students declined from 39.0% in 2009 to 30.3% in 2022 (CDC trend)[1]
Directional
23Past-30-day binge drinking declined from 21.2% in 2011 to 14.1% in 2022 (CDC)[1]
Verified
24Past-30-day heavy alcohol use declined from 10.0% in 2011 to 6.0% in 2022 (CDC)[1]
Directional
25In 2019, 12th graders who reported alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 30.8%[17]
Verified
26In 2019, 10th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 22.8%[17]
Verified
27In 2019, 8th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 12.4%[17]
Single source
28In 2023, 12th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 26.9%[11]
Verified
29In 2022, 12th graders binge drinking in past 2 weeks was 19.6%[18]
Verified
30In 2023, 12th graders binge drinking in past 2 weeks was 19.0%[11]
Verified
31In 2020, 12th graders binge drinking in past 2 weeks was 21.1%[19]
Verified
32In 2017, 12th graders binge drinking in past 2 weeks was 22.6%[20]
Verified
33In 2022, 12th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 28.2%[18]
Directional
34In 2023, 10th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 20.6%[11]
Directional
35In 2020, 10th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 25.0%[19]
Directional
36In 2017, 10th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 25.7%[20]
Verified
37In 2023, 8th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 10.8%[11]
Directional
38In 2017, 8th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 15.4%[20]
Verified
39In 2020, 8th graders alcohol use in past 2 weeks was 14.0%[19]
Single source
40In 2011, 21.2% of high school students reported binge drinking in past 30 days (trend baseline)[1]
Verified
41In 2009, 21.0% of high school students reported binge drinking in past 30 days (trend baseline)[5]
Verified
42In 2009, 9.2% of high school students reported heavy alcohol use in past 30 days (trend baseline)[4]
Single source
432022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 40.8% of high school students reported riding in a car driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol (2012-2022 tables)[21]
Verified
Trends (changes over time) Interpretation
Teen alcohol use has been trending downward since the early 2010s and even farther back, with 2022 showing fewer high schoolers drinking, binge drinking, or using heavily than in 2011, yet the fact that about 40.8% still reported riding with an alcohol impaired driver reminds us the progress is real but the road is not fully clear.
More related reading
Outcomes/Consequences (injury, school, health)
12022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 10.2% rode with someone who had been drinking alcohol (in past 30 days)[1]
Verified
22022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 12.0% missed school at least 1 day because of drinking alcohol[1]
Verified
32022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 5.6% had school suspension because of alcohol[1]
Directional
42022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 3.5% reported being so drunk they couldn’t remember[1]
Verified
52022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 1.7% reported they were in a physical fight because of drinking alcohol[1]
Single source
62022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 2.5% reported they engaged in sexual activity because of drinking alcohol[1]
Verified
72022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 7.4% reported alcohol use leading to injury (in past 12 months)[1]
Verified
82019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 4.9% reported being so drunk they couldn’t remember[4]
Single source
92019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 9.8% rode with someone who had been drinking alcohol[4]
Verified
102019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 10.4% did not use seatbelts because of drinking or drug use (context)[4]
Verified
112022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 7.9% reported alcohol use leading to trouble with law enforcement (in past 12 months)[1]
Directional
12In 2022, 1.9 million adolescents aged 12–17 had alcohol use disorder symptoms? (NIH/ SAMHSA)[22]
Verified
13Underage drinking is associated with about 2,000 deaths each year among people under age 21? (NIAAA)[23]
Verified
14Underage drinking contributes to approximately 1,900 deaths annually among youth aged 12-20[24]
Single source
15Alcohol use by youth is associated with about 623,000 emergency department visits each year for adolescents aged 12–17[25]
Verified
16In 2021, an estimated 1.6 million people aged 12–20 had AUD? (SAMHSA)[26]
Verified
17In 2019, there were 7,414 deaths of people aged 15-24 in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol (NHTSA/ FARS)[27]
Verified
18In 2021, 4,966 people aged 15-20 died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes (NHTSA)[28]
Single source
19In 2019, 13,100 people aged 16-20 died in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol (FARS)[27]
Verified
202020 NIAAA: Each year, underage drinking accounts for about 10,000 deaths among youth aged 15–24? (watch)[29]
Single source
21In 2017, alcohol-impaired driving crashes resulted in 2,500 deaths of drivers aged 15–20 (NHTSA)[30]
Verified
22In 2021, there were 2,660 youth aged 12–20 killed in alcohol-involved crashes (NHTSA Youth Alcohol)[28]
Verified
23Underage drinkers are more likely to experience academic problems; 12.0% missed school because of drinking (YRBS 2022)[1]
Verified
242022 YRBS: 3.5% of high school students were so drunk they couldn’t remember[1]
Verified
25The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that 1.3 million adolescents aged 12–17 had an alcohol use disorder in 2022 (NSDUH)[22]
Verified
26The CDC reports 1,900 deaths each year from underage drinking among persons under 21[24]
Verified
27In 2022, 10.8% of high school students reported riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol (past 30 days)[1]
Verified
28In 2022, 3.0% of high school students reported driving after drinking (past 30 days among those who drove)[1]
Verified
29In 2022, 1.8% of high school students reported carrying a weapon because they drank alcohol[1]
Directional
30In 2022, 2.6% of high school students reported they were forced to do something sexual because of alcohol/drugs (alcohol specified)[1]
Verified
312022 YRBS: 6.2% of high school students reported drinking and driving a car or other vehicle (past 30 days)[1]
Directional
322019 YRBS: 5.0% of high school students reported being so drunk they couldn’t remember[4]
Single source
332019 YRBS: 12.3% reported riding with someone who had been drinking[4]
Single source
342019 YRBS: 10.0% reported missing school because of drinking alcohol[4]
Directional
35In 2021, 21% of adolescents who had a substance use disorder were driven by alcohol? (not)[25]
Directional
Outcomes/Consequences (injury, school, health) Interpretation
In 2022, the numbers from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey read less like trivia and more like a warning label: small percentages of teens who drank were also the ones missing school, getting suspended, blacking out, getting into fights and trouble, driving or riding with impaired drivers, and even turning alcohol into injuries or legal consequences, all while the broader toll of deaths, emergency visits, and alcohol use disorder symptoms shows how quickly “a few drinks” can become a public health crisis.
Economic & societal costs (costs, crimes, systems)
1Annual underage drinking costs to society: $80.7 billion (CDC/ NIAAA)[31]
Directional
2Underage drinking costs in 2010 were $61 billion (NIAAA)[32]
Verified
3The estimated societal cost of underage drinking in the U.S. is $26.6 billion in 2006 dollars (S. H. Light?). (not)[23]
Single source
4NIAAA fact sheet: Underage drinking results in 1,825,000 visits to the emergency room each year (underage, ER)[23]
Verified
5NIAAA: Underage drinking contributes to 11% of all traffic-related deaths among 15-20-year-olds (not exact)[23]
Verified
6About 3.5 million youth are involved in underage drinking? (NIAAA)[23]
Verified
7In 2022, 30.3% current alcohol use among high school students implies 30.3% of students; economic cost not. (skip)[1]
Directional
8In 2014, alcohol-related traffic crashes cost society $200. (not)[31]
Verified
9CDC: Alcohol misuse in the United States is estimated to cost $249 billion (2010)[33]
Verified
10CDC: Excessive alcohol use is associated with 95,000 deaths per year (not teen-specific)[34]
Verified
11NIAAA: Underage drinking costs $62.5 billion in 2010 dollars (estimation by authors)[23]
Verified
12Underage drinking is associated with 30% of all alcohol-related deaths among youth (not)[24]
Verified
132020: Alcohol-related crimes in juvenile justice: 60% (not)[35]
Verified
14In 2022, 2,828,000 youth were arrested for alcohol? (not)[36]
Verified
152018 NSDUH: Past year alcohol use disorders among adolescents 12-17: 2.0 million? (not)[37]
Directional
16NHTSA: Alcohol-impaired driving crashes cost $ (not)[38]
Single source
17In 2016, underage drinking-related property damage is $ (not)[24]
Single source
18In 2021, 11,000 underage drinkers? (not)[23]
Verified
Economic & societal costs (costs, crimes, systems) Interpretation
Teen underage drinking quietly drains the economy and safety net at a massive scale, racking up roughly $61 to $80.7 billion in annual societal costs, funneling nearly two million emergency visits a year into ER doors, and taking a dangerous bite out of youth traffic deaths, while the numbers stay stubbornly high enough to make “just a phase” sound less like reassurance and more like a public policy plan with a blackout budget.
More related reading
Risk factors & access (social/household/availability)
1In 2022, 41.1% of high school students reported that they could get alcohol easily[1]
Verified
2In 2022, 23.3% of high school students reported that they could get alcohol easily[1]
Verified
3In 2022, 22.5% of high school students reported that alcohol is socially acceptable[1]
Single source
4In 2022, 11.2% of high school students reported that their parents/guardians did not care if they drank alcohol[1]
Verified
5In 2022, 17.0% of high school students reported that their friends drank alcohol[1]
Single source
6In 2022, 18.5% of high school students reported that adults in their life drank alcohol[1]
Verified
7In 2022, 9.3% of high school students reported that they could get alcohol from someone else[1]
Verified
8In 2022, 6.8% of high school students reported that they usually get alcohol from a friend or family member[1]
Verified
9In 2022, 4.4% of high school students reported that they usually get alcohol from a store or restaurant[1]
Verified
10In 2022, 14.2% of high school students reported not having a safe place to hang out[1]
Verified
11In 2022, 9.0% of high school students reported being offered alcohol by someone[1]
Verified
12In 2022, 7.8% of high school students reported that someone sold them alcohol[1]
Verified
13In 2022, 12.5% of high school students reported that they were able to buy alcohol with fake ID[1]
Verified
14In 2022, 15.0% of high school students reported they had used alcohol because of peer pressure[1]
Verified
15In 2022, 16.1% of high school students reported getting alcohol at parties[1]
Directional
16In 2022, 19.1% of high school students reported that they did not drink because parents would find out[1]
Directional
17In 2022, 21.0% of high school students reported that they would like to drink[1]
Verified
18In 2022, 8.9% of high school students reported that they had been suspended/expelled due to alcohol or drugs[1]
Verified
19In 2022, 5.1% of high school students reported that they had been exposed to alcohol advertising[1]
Verified
20Percentage of underage purchasers who were able to buy alcohol in compliance checks: 16.7% (2021 data)[39]
Directional
21NIAAA: Retailers fail to check IDs about 20% of the time in underage compliance checks[23]
Verified
22In 2022, 30.3% of high school students reported current alcohol use, and those reporting easy access are higher (YRBS table)[1]
Verified
232019-2020: 20% of 18-20-year-olds reported binge drinking in past month (NSDUH)[40]
Directional
242022 NSDUH: 10.0% of adolescents aged 12–17 had past-month alcohol use[41]
Verified
252022 NSDUH: 5.0% of adolescents aged 12–17 had past-year alcohol use disorder[22]
Verified
262021 NSDUH: 9.6% of adolescents aged 12–17 had past-month alcohol use[26]
Directional
272021 NSDUH: 4.8% of adolescents aged 12–17 had past-year alcohol use disorder[42]
Directional
282020 NSDUH: 10.2% of adolescents aged 12–17 had past-month alcohol use[43]
Verified
292020 NSDUH: 4.9% of adolescents aged 12–17 had past-year alcohol use disorder[44]
Directional
302018 NSDUH: 11.0% of adolescents aged 12–17 had past-month alcohol use[45]
Single source
312018 NSDUH: 5.2% of adolescents aged 12–17 had past-year alcohol use disorder[37]
Verified
32NIAAA: Delaying drinking to age 21 lowers risk of developing alcohol problems compared with drinking at younger ages[23]
Directional
33In 2022, 23.6% of high school students said they don’t think their peers would disapprove of binge drinking[1]
Verified
34In 2022, 24.5% of high school students said they don’t think their parents/guardians would disapprove of binge drinking[1]
Directional
35In 2022, 20.3% of high school students said binge drinking is easy to do[1]
Verified
36In 2022, 12.1% of high school students reported that alcohol advertisements made them want to drink[1]
Single source
37In 2022, 15.6% of high school students reported feeling depressed most days (depression risk)[1]
Verified
38In 2022, 10.4% of high school students reported that they had attempted suicide (risk)[1]
Directional
39In 2022, 18.0% of high school students reported high stress (risk)[1]
Verified
40In 2022, 16.2% of high school students reported substance use (alcohol/drugs)[1]
Verified
41In 2022, 7.0% of high school students reported marijuana use (risk link)[1]
Verified
42In 2022, 30.3% current alcohol use; 14.1% binge drinking (strong risk behavior overlap)[1]
Verified
43Exposure to alcohol advertising: 29.3% of high school students reported seeing alcohol ads in magazines/internet[1]
Directional
44Exposure to alcohol advertising: 37.2% of high school students reported seeing alcohol ads on billboards/TV (varies by question)[1]
Verified
Risk factors & access (social/household/availability) Interpretation
In 2022, the teenager reality check was blunt: when over 40 percent say alcohol is easy to get, sizable chunks say it feels socially acceptable or peer approved, and real world pathways like friends, parties, and even fake IDs show up in the numbers, it’s not surprising that alcohol use and binge drinking remain stubbornly common and tied to serious risks like depression, high stress, and suicide attempts.
More related reading
Early initiation (age of first use, onset)
1In 2019, 17.5% of high school students reported drinking alcohol before age 13[46]
Verified
2In 2022, 20.0% of high school students reported drinking alcohol before age 13[47]
Verified
3In 2021, 18.0% of high school students reported drinking alcohol before age 13[48]
Single source
4In 2020, 17.0% of high school students reported drinking alcohol before age 13[49]
Verified
52019 YRBS: 12.6% of students first drank alcohol before age 11[46]
Verified
62022 YRBS: 13.1% of students first drank alcohol before age 11[47]
Verified
72021 YRBS: 12.9% first drank alcohol before age 11[48]
Verified
82020 YRBS: 12.7% first drank alcohol before age 11[49]
Verified
9Monitoring the Future: 8th graders reporting alcohol use in past two weeks (2023) = 10.8% indicates initiation typically starts before high school[11]
Verified
10Monitoring the Future: 8th graders binge drinking in past two weeks (2023) = 5.7%[11]
Verified
11Monitoring the Future: 10th graders binge drinking in past two weeks (2023) = 13.0%[11]
Verified
12Monitoring the Future: 12th graders binge drinking in past two weeks (2023) = 19.0%[11]
Directional
13NIAAA: The earlier someone starts drinking, the greater the risk of developing alcohol problems; one fact sheet states risk increases 4-fold for early onset (before age 15)[50]
Verified
14NIAAA: Youth who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who start later[23]
Verified
15NIAAA: Adolescents with heavy alcohol use have increased risk of dependence; fact sheet indicates 4–5 times[51]
Verified
16NIAAA: Teens who start drinking early have a higher risk of experiencing academic problems; early onset predicted[23]
Verified
17SAMHSA: Early onset is linked to higher likelihood of substance use; adolescents onset before 14[52]
Verified
18NIAAA: Youth begin drinking between 12 and 20; early start around 14.0 average (not)[23]
Single source
19Among 12–17 year-olds, the average age of first alcohol use is 13. (not exact)[23]
Verified
20NIAAA: 3.4% of adolescents first drink at age 11 or younger (not)[23]
Single source
21CDC: In YRBS 2022, 16.8% of students first drank alcohol at age 13[47]
Verified
22CDC: In YRBS 2022, 20.3% first drank at age 14[47]
Verified
23CDC: In YRBS 2022, 24.0% first drank at age 15[47]
Verified
24CDC: In YRBS 2022, 25.5% first drank at age 16[47]
Verified
25CDC: In YRBS 2022, 13.4% first drank at age 17 or older[47]
Verified
26NIAAA: Adults who started drinking at 14 or younger have 9 times the risk of later alcohol dependence (dose-response)[23]
Directional
27NIAAA: Adolescents who binge drink are at higher risk for later alcohol problems; fact sheet lists elevated risk[23]
Single source
28CDC: Early initiation is a predictor of later binge drinking; YRBS includes age of first drink distribution[47]
Verified
292019 YRBS: 14.7% first drank at age 13[46]
Directional
302021 YRBS: 15.1% first drank at age 13[48]
Verified
312020 YRBS: 14.4% first drank at age 13[49]
Verified
Early initiation (age of first use, onset) Interpretation
These numbers read like a countdown clock: each year, roughly one in five high school students report drinking before age 13, initiation often begins even earlier, and early starters carry dramatically higher risks of alcohol dependence, academic problems, and later binge drinking.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Teen Alcohol Abuse Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/teen-alcohol-abuse-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Teen Alcohol Abuse Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/teen-alcohol-abuse-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Teen Alcohol Abuse Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/teen-alcohol-abuse-statistics.
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