Drinking patterns and social consequences: a study of middle-class adolescents in two private pediatric practices

One hundred sixty-two adolescents who were seen at two suburban private pediatric practices completed an anonymous, written questionnaire about drinking and drug habits. The respondents' ages ranged from 14 to 17 years; all were white and from middle- or upper middle-class families. The adolescents reported high self-esteem, good general health, and few psychologic problems. The majority (63%) reported having drunk alcohol at some time, and the proportion who professed never to drink alcohol became progressively smaller with age, to only 15% at age 17 years. Overall, one fifth claimed that they had to drink more than six beers before they "got a buzz," and this proportion increased to 43% by age 17 years. Among the 17-year-old respondents, 40% replied that their good friends had used alcohol more than 50 times. Twenty-four percent of respondents said that a good friend had received a citation for driving while intoxicated. Almost one fifth of respondents stated that someone in their family drinks alcohol every day, and that someone close to them has a drinking problem. Social acceptance of drinking, peer pressure, and the ready availability of alcohol have led to an epidemic of alcohol use among teenagers and to social, academic, and health problems in many frequent users. Pediatricians should play a more active role in the identification and management of alcohol abuse by their adolescent patients.