Teen Drinking Rates Climb Sharply After Age 13, Females Lead

A recent review of federal alcohol-use surveys reveals that teenage girls aged 12-20 are drinking and binge-drinking at higher rates than their male peers, with 14.3% reporting past-month use versus 12.4% for boys. Binge drinking affected 1 in 12 females compared with 1 in 14 males, according to the law firm Jones & Swanson. Age is a critical factor: only about 1 in 100 youths aged 12-13 drank in the prior month, while the figure jumps to roughly 1 in 7 among 16-17-year-olds.

Approximately one-third of underage drinkers obtained alcohol at home, often from a relative over 21 or a parent/guardian. Racial disparities were noted, with white teens binge-drinking at 9.6%, higher than Hispanic (6.5%) and Black (5.5%) youths. The analysis links teen drinking to 2,636 crash deaths in 2024, including 825 during the summer period, and underscores the need for targeted prevention efforts.