Among the 14 million adults age 21 and older who have been classified as having alcohol dependence or abuse what percent started using alcohol before age 21?

Answer 1

There are not sufficient statistics available to answer that question accurately. It is certain, however, that the number is much higher than in those who choose not to drink until they are 21. The human brain continues to develop for the first 20 - 22 years of life, and is much more susceptible to outside influences than the brain of an adult. The risk of genetically-determined Alcoholism is great enough without compounding it by stacking the deck against yourself.

Answer 2

Young adults who do not begin to consume alcohol until they are 21 (the current minimum legal drinking age) are significantly more likely to abuse alcohol in adulthood. These results seem counter-intuitive at first, but large studies of high school, college, and post college drinking habits show that two important facts. First, there is no statistically significant relationship between "binge drinking" (4 or more drinks in one night) in college and post-college alcoholism. Second, young adults who experiment with alcohol in their teenage years are less likely to binge drink as post-college adults. Studies indicate that the explanation could be that these young adults miss valuable lessons and learning habits that would prevent them from abusing alcohol as adults.

Answer 3

It is a myth to assume that beginning to drink before age 21 causes later alcohol problems. If it did, most people would have alcohol problems because most people began drinking before age 21.