Why Do Teenagers Drink Alcohol?

by Reid K. Hester, Ph.D.

Why do teenagers drink alcohol? And what do they find so good about it?

Teenagers, like adults, drink alcohol for many different reasons, although some of them are different for teens. Your question is on teens and so I'll restrict my answer to that population.

Teens are more likely to start experimenting with drinking if they have parents who drink, if they have friends who are also drinking, and if their parents don't give them clear messages about not drinking outside the house (if they are allowed to drink some wine with dinner, for instance).

Also, alcohol is a powerful drug and changes how you feel. Some of the initial sensations at lower blood alcohol levels are pleasant and it is this sensation that many teens, as well as adults, seek.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. So if you're tense or uptight, drinking some alcohol will, at least initially, reduce some of that tension and help you "chill out."

There are many other reasons why teens drink but to answer in depth would take an entire book. If you're concerned about some of your friends' drinking, consider talking with an adult in whom you can confide.

Also, if you yourself are a teen, consider attending Ala-teen. It is a 12-step group for teenagers who are concerned about other's drinking. They have a lot of literature and discussions about the dynamics of drinking and what you can do to help yourself as well as the drinker.

About the Author:

Reid K. Hester, Ph.D., Director, Research Division, Behavior Therapy Associates, 9426 Indian School Rd NE, Suite 1, Albuquerque, NM 87112. Phone: 505.345.6100.

Dr. Hester is has developed an evidence-based, web application called ModerateDrinking.com to help heavy drinkers be successful in changing their drinking. A video demo of the program is available at www.behaviortherapy.com

Originally published 2/19/98
Revised 8/18/08 by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.

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Discuss this Topic

Wow people who drink are

Wow people who drink are crazy!!!!

Samuel | Thu, 03/18/2010 - 19:34

this is very true most teens

this is very true most teens drink out of depression.i have a girlfriend who spent her earlier years drinking and its cause it helps them forget.thnx this is also for a project at school...

no one important | Wed, 03/17/2010 - 00:34

Im a tennager who drinks way

Im a tennager who drinks way to much. i just drink bc i hate life and have no freinds

connor | Tue, 03/16/2010 - 01:52

Thanks i have to do a

Thanks i have to do a research project on this and this has help me alot, to see other peoples point of view..

Tasia | Mon, 03/08/2010 - 15:02

drinking is so not cool cusz

drinking is so not cool cusz im 18 and thats how 1/2 my family and friends end up....dead or in juvie or prison...sorry i dont drink and might 1 day but not now....

???? | Tue, 03/02/2010 - 04:35

Well that give me a good

Well that give me a good idea about alcohol.

winta | Tue, 02/23/2010 - 22:39

We thank you!

winta | Tue, 02/23/2010 - 22:36

hey this tips rocks! its

hey this tips rocks! its goin to help me on my article that am doin in school about teenagers drinking i hope some teenagers stop because my opinion its that drinking well you know and i know that its not! goin to take you no WHERE!! keep that in mind when you are about to drink so if your one of those person that thinks drinkin!! helps solve your problems or forget about things/feelings well it doesn't! so if you got some problems just talk to an adult that u truth alot! and tell him/her what your problem is and how you could solve it and this goes to all the adults just try to stop drinking and help the childrens to stop to i have seen some childrens 8,9,10and so on that they have started drinking and thats not good for them it'll just make their lifes wroth! thanks for yall time and stopping by reading my comment

alex | Thu, 02/18/2010 - 01:22

We drink because it's funn!!

Telua | Sun, 02/14/2010 - 06:34

WELL FROM EXPERIENCE FRIENDS

WELL FROM EXPERIENCE FRIENDS ARE WAT KIBD OF STARTS U OFF WITH DRINKING AND ALSO PARENTS BUT ITS NOT REALLY TRUE THAT WE START DRINKING B/C OF THEM B/C IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THAT THEN EVEN KIDS IN ELEMENATRY WOULD BE DOING THIS BUT MOST LIKELY KIDS FROM 11 AND UP DRINK FOR DEPRESSION OR THEY THINK ITS FUN.FROM EXPERIENCE IM A TEEN WHO STARTED DRINKING OF DEPRESSION AND I THINK THIS IS IONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE HAVE NOW AND DAYS. OFCOURSE WEN I WAS YOUNG I USED TO DRINK MORE. ALSO I THINK TEENS START TO DRINK BECUASE AS WE DEVELOP WE START WANTING TO EXPERIENCE NEW THINGS JUST LIKE AN ADULT. THATS WHY I SAY ADULTS ARE JUST LIKE TEENS BUT NOT ALL. =)

BABY | Sat, 02/13/2010 - 03:15

i drink basically every

i drink basically every saturday night . my parents buy my alcohol and me and my friends and me go to partys . we go to house partys where theres usually no parents and its awesome ! i started about last year , but i can only handle about 8 cans %7 , it really depends how fast i drink . i dont skull my drinks back but i drink with a straw cos yu get wasted faster , and it just brings my confidence up & i love it !

Emz | Sun, 02/07/2010 - 06:30

yo i Freaken love to drink

yo i Freaken love to drink ok dude alcoho is my friend and it helps me through most of my problems i love it so quit complaning

Taylor | Tue, 02/02/2010 - 22:47

sooo why does everybody

sooo why does everybody think tht drinking is soo bad i mean sure it can damage ur health but its fun and it relaxes u from ur really harsh days at school or work...

analisa | Mon, 11/30/2009 - 14:47

well im 13 and i am a

well im 13 and i am a drinker for so many reasons but bc of depression. i need help really bad ..

rileu | Wed, 11/18/2009 - 03:29

When I was a teenager, (that

When I was a teenager, (that was not so long ago!), with every glass of vodka that I drink, I forget bits and pieces of problems. With every bottle of beer I consume, tons of bad memories are temporarily erased. Every night in a bar or a friend’s house, drinking is but ordinary. When I am influenced by liquor or simply drunk, I feel very brave, and I can pour all my troubles. I can valiantly cry and I can boastfully laugh without any hesitation.
The dilemma is, am I losing myself every time I drink or am I just doing it to escape from reality? I love to socialize and that is for sure. My peers drink, so I drink just as everyone. Am I that outspoken even when I am not drunk? I do. So should I drink in poor health and in debt? I still will, but of course not as much as before.

KayaCamilla | Wed, 11/04/2009 - 07:36

you go girl!!!!

joe wisedog | Mon, 11/02/2009 - 21:59

This was retarted...... That

This was retarted...... That is not why teenagers drink!!!

Bertha | Wed, 09/16/2009 - 15:18

Thank you so much. This will

Thank you so much. This will really help my school project!

Elaine | Mon, 08/24/2009 - 12:12

Hey. I have an assignment on

Hey. I have an assignment on teen drinking and this web site helped me alot. Thankyou so much.

Jacqui | Sun, 08/09/2009 - 05:18