How Successful Have We Been in Changing Teens' Alcohol Use?

Alcohol use by youth is not recognized as dangerous because it is perceived as a rite of passage. Prevention activities have reduced teen drinking. Over the past 15 years drinking declined by 51% for youth 12-17 and by 31% for 12th graders. However, between 1992 and 1993, the proportion of 12-17 year olds who reported drinking in the previous month increased from 15.7% to 18%.