To get high, to rebel, to alter their feelings of their environment, if only temporary. One of the main reasons kids drink for effect is the freedom it gives them. A problem of drinking for effect is whatever age the child is when he starts depending on the effect of alcohol, that's the age they are when they have overcome there drinking problem. Many adults fail to take teenage alcohol problems seriously because they believe that their teens are too young to worry about. To them the word alcoholic makes them think of a malnourished person who lives on the street.
Many young people live in families where the use of alcohol is a part of normal life.
Many parents who are drinkers themselves look past teenage drinking. They see drinking as a normal activity and part of growing up. They are more likely to follow in their parent's footsteps. Few parents encourage their child to drink, but few see nothing wrong with occasionally drinking. Some parents are relieved when teens drink rather than smoke pot or do other drugs.