It is generally believed that young people (often defined as those under the age of 25) may be at increased risk for harm from drinking. Young people’s drinking is an issue of concern in countries around the world. The debate revolves around how best to reduce the risks facing this segment of population.
Young people are at increased risk for harm from certain drinking patterns due to several factors.
Physiologically, they are still undergoing developmental changes that may increase the risk for physical harm. For example:
- Young people may have reduced sensitivity to some intoxicating effects of alcohol compared to older adults and, as a result, may drink more heavily.
- Developing neural pathways in the brains of young people make them more susceptible to harm and may lead to impairment of memory processing and other physiological functions.
Young people lack experience with drinking and with knowing their limits. Coupled with a tendency toward risk-taking generally, this may increase the potential for physical and social harm.
Young people are more likely than adults to engage in potentially harmful drinking behaviors, such as:
- drinking excessively;
- engaging in aggressive and asocial behaviors, resulting in injuries and accidents (especially road traffic crashes);
- participating in other risky activities, such high-risk sexual behavior.
There is no agreement on the specific age when drinking becomes appropriate.
Most cultures where alcohol consumption is legal have a mandated threshold age at which buying and/or consuming alcohol becomes permitted (see Table: Minimum Age Limits Worldwide).
Where this limit should be set and its potential effectiveness as a prevention measure is subject to considerable debate.
- Minimum drinking and purchase ages in countries around the world range from 16 to 25 years of age, with 18 being the most common age limit.
- Where the age limit is set, it is largely a product of cultural attitudes toward alcohol and level of permissiveness to drinking by young people.
- In some countries, drinking age precedes the age of legal majority; in others, it coincides with it; and, in still others, drinking is delayed well past that threshold.
- Typically, drinking age laws make no reference to alcohol consumption in the home. In some countries, alcohol content or type of beverage also determine the age of legal access.
There is considerable debate around how young people learn to drink and what influences their drinking.
Young people’s drinking patterns are influenced by a variety of factors: family, peers, media, cultural norms and religion, and government policies.
There is evidence that family and peers represent the most significant influences in the development of young people’s drinking patterns.
Drinking during adolescence may be a predictor of future risky drinking behavior. However, there is debate around whether and the extent to which early initiation into drinking may contribute to harmful tendencies and problems in adulthood.
Much attention has been given to prevention and policy measures aimed at limiting young people’s drinking and reducing the potential for harmful outcomes.
No single strategy has been shown to be equally successful in all circumstances.
While some advocate restricting the physical availability of alcohol to young people, others argue that approaches intended to educate and encourage responsible decision-making are more likely to reduce potential for harm.
Young people’s drinking is influenced by a complex interaction among range of individual, social, and economic factors. Therefore, it is to be expected that a similarly complex mix of solutions is needed to minimize the potential risk for harm.
It is generally believed that the potential for alcohol-related harm is higher for younger people (those under the age of 25), whose drinking behaviors place them at particular risk for harm. The debate revolves around how best to reduce the risks facing this segment of population.
Young people are, for a variety of reasons, at increased risk for harm from certain drinking patterns.
Physiologically, they are still undergoing developmental changes, which place them at increased risk for physical harm.
- Young people may have reduced sensitivity to some intoxicating effects of alcohol compared to older adults.
- For example, young people may be susceptible to increased potential harm to brain development, memory processing, and other physiological development.
Young people's inexperience with alcohol consumption and their greater tendency toward risk-taking, as well as other behaviors, also increase the potential for social harm. Young people are more likely than adults to—
- drink excessively;
- engage in aggressive and asocial behaviors and experience injuries and accidents (especially road traffic crashes);
- be involved in both excessive alcohol consumption and risky sexual behavior.
There is no agreement on the specific age when drinking becomes appropriate.
Most cultures where alcohol consumption is legal have a mandated threshold age at which buying and/or consuming alcohol becomes permitted (see Policy Table: Minimum Age Limits Worldwide).
Where this limit should be set and its potential effectiveness as a prevention measure is subject to considerable debate.
- Minimum drinking and purchase ages in countries around the world range from 16 to 25 years of age.
- Where the age limit is set, it is largely a product of cultural attitudes toward alcohol and level of permissiveness to drinking by young people.
- In some countries, drinking age precedes the age of legal majority; in others, it coincides with it; and, in still others, drinking is delayed well past that threshold.
- Typically, drinking age laws make no reference to alcohol consumption in the home. In some countries, alcohol content or type of beverage also determine the age of legal access.
There is considerable debate around how adolescents learn to drink and what influences their drinking.
How and when the young learn about drinking and acquire drinking patterns may be influenced by a variety of factors: family, peers, media, cultural norms and religion, and government policies.
There is evidence that family and peers represent the most significant influences in the development of young people’s drinking patterns.
The influence of the age at which drinking is initiated on the potential for problems later in life is a controversial issue.
However, this is likely to relate to particular patterns of drinking and requires further research. It is important to consider a range of other key factors that may contribute to the development of problems: genetics, family history, drinking patterns, cultural influences, and social and family environments.