The average age when drinking begins is 14. However, older boys and girls are more divergent. Eighteen and 19 year old boys drink an average of 6.3 days per month while girls of the same age average only 4.6 days per month. Southern teens drink the most frequently averaging 6.2 days per month when they consume alcohol. Teens in the West are the most infrequent drinkers, averaging 4.4 days of drinking per month.
Male minors are the heaviest drinkers.
The more days per month teens drink, the higher the average number of drinks they consume. Teens who drink one day per month average just 2.9 drinks while those who drink six or more days average 5.6 drinks at a time. While drinking is common among teenagers nationwide, they are not overly educated about the topic. Teenagers believe that there is little wrong with underage drinking even if it is against the law. Teenagers average 4.1 days per month when they drink five or more drinks at a time.