Alcohol affects teens differently than it does adults. Drinking alcohol as teens can have many negative impacts. Teen drinking can:
Impair brain development. In fact, the earlier a teen starts drinking, the greater the risk for negative consequences (1).
Increase the risk of mental health problems such as depression (2) and anxiety disorders (3).
Negatively impact school performance (4).
Increase the risk of alcohol use disorders (such as addiction) later in life (5).
(Numbered citations can be found in the Resources section)