At what age do most children first try drinking?
Asked by: Cory Shanahan | Last update: December 30, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (10 votes)
The average American girl has her first drink at age 13 and for boys, it's age 11. It can also have long-term effects. Youth who start drinking before age 15 are six times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or misuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21.
What age do most kids start drinking?
Alcohol use often begins during adolescence and becomes more likely as adolescents age. In 2023, about one in 100 adolescents ages 12 to 13 reported drinking alcohol in the past month, and about one in 200 engaged in binge drinking.
What age do people first try alcohol?
A recent 2019 Australian survey identified that one third of 14- to 17-year-olds had consumed a full standard drink during their lifetime, with an average initiation age of 16.2 years (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019).
What percentage of 14 year olds drink alcohol?
Underage Drinking – National Statistics
The rate of current alcohol consumption increases with increasing age according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 1.2% among 12-13 year olds to 6% among 14-15 years to 13% at ages 16-17, and more than doubling among 18-20 year olds (31%).
Is it normal for a 14-year-old to drink?
Nearly 25% of 14-to-15-year-olds admit they've had at least one drink in their lifetime. Around 4.2 million teens say they went on a drinking binge at least once in the last month. 44% of all high schoolers who binge drink consume 8 or more drinks in a row.
Thinking About Drinking Alcohol? 3 Things You Need to Know First | AAP
Why is underage drinking so popular?
Peer pressure.
This is among the most common reasons for underage drinking. As kids enter their teens, friends exert more and more influence over the choices they make. Desperate to fit in and be accepted, kids are much more likely to drink when their friends drink.
What percentage of 8th graders have tried alcohol?
Despite recent declining rates for underage drinking, seven out of every ten students (69%) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by the end of high school, and three out of ten (30%) have done so by 8th grade.
What country has the highest underage drinking?
A third of 11-year-olds and more than half of 13-year-olds in England have drunk alcohol - putting it top out of 44 countries examined in a report by global health experts. Girls were found to be more likely than boys to be drinking and getting drunk aged 15 in England, Wales and Scotland.
At what age do children stop thinking of alcohol in a negative way?
Most 6-year-olds know that alcohol is only for adults. However, between ages 9 and 13, youth begin to think that alcohol use is okay. That's why it's never too early to start talking with young people about the dangers of underage drinking.
What is a black out?
Key facts. A blackout is a temporary loss of consciousness. Blackouts can be caused by fainting, low blood pressure, or something more serious. If you have a blackout, it's best to see your doctor.
What happens if a kid drinks a sip of alcohol?
Alcohol is potentially toxic to children, and it only takes a small amount for it to be dangerous to them. It can affect a child's blood sugar and central nervous system and slow down breathing. And due to their smaller size, children are more likely to get toxicity from ingesting it than adults.
What age do Europeans start drinking?
The minimum legal drinking age in the vast majority of European countries is 18. Others range from 16 to 20, depending on where it's served, its alcohol content, and if it's within the presence of an adult.
What time do Americans start drinking?
While the majority of drinkers, 11 percent, prefer to wait until between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., others choose to start much earlier. Two percent of Americans drink before 8 a.m., and 4 percent between 8 and 10 a.m.
What's the youngest drinking age in the world?
At 13, Burkina Faso is the country with the youngest age of alcohol consumption. Burkina Faso, a West African country with a population of 20.9 million (2020), has an area that spans about 170,255 miles.
What age can kids drink emergency?
Emergen-C is fine for adults, but when you see cold symptoms coming on for a child, you shouldn't give your child under 15 an adult Emergen-C or a similar supplement.
What is the average age for first drink?
Among those 12 and older who began drinking before age 21, the mean age at first drink was 15.9 years. Further, of the 4.7 million people who began drinking in the past 12 months, 82.9% began drinking before age 21 and 61% began drinking before age 18.
Which nation drinks the most?
Romania tops the list of countries with the highest alcohol consumption per person, with Georgia, Czechia, Latvia, and Germany rounding out the top five. This is according to the global estimates made available by the World Health Organization (WHO), the latest data referring to 2019.
Why is the drinking age 21 in the US but 18 everywhere else?
Some countries have a minimum legal drinking age of 19 to prevent the flow of alcoholic beverages in high schools, while others like the United States have a minimum legal purchasing age of 21 (18 in P.R. and USVI) in an effort to reduce the amount of drunk driving rates among teenagers and young adults.
Why is the US drinking age so high?
The MLDA of 21 years helps lower the risk of developing alcohol and other substance use disorders, for those who drink alcohol. It also supports families and communities by leading to fewer harmful births, lower rates of suicide and homicide, and fewer deaths from alcohol poisoning.
What are the four types of drinkers?
- Social Drinkers. Social drinkers are people who consume alcohol primarily in social settings, such as parties, gatherings, or social events. ...
- Conformity Drinkers. ...
- Enhancement Drinkers. ...
- Coping Drinkers.
What does underage drinking do to the brain?
More and more research suggests that drinking alcohol in adolescence may have significant effects on brain function. The earlier people start drinking alcohol, the more likely they are to experience a measurable impact on cognitive functions, memory, and school performance over time—perhaps even into adulthood.
Is it normal for 16 year olds to drink?
Furthermore, one in five 12- to 20-year-olds drink alcohol, with more than 1 in 10 binge drinking in the past 30 days. They also learned of the risks of alcohol to a teen's rapidly developing brain.
What organ does liquor affect?
Organs known to be damaged by long-term alcohol misuse include the brain and nervous system, heart, liver and pancreas. Heavy drinking can also increase your blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels, both of which are major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
Which action is the only way to become sober?
Expert-Verified Answer. The only way to become sober is to allow time for the body to metabolize alcohol. Drinking coffee, taking cold showers, or forcing vomiting do not help. It generally takes about one to two hours for the body to metabolize each standard drink consumed.