Although it’s illegal to buy alcohol in the United States until the age of 21, most teens can get access to it. It’s therefore up to you them make a decision about drinking. But why do teens drink anyway?
Experimentation with alcohol during the teen years is common. Some reasons that teens use alcohol and other drugs are:
- curiosity
- to feel good, reduce stress, and relax
- to fit in
- to feel older
From a very young age, kids see advertising messages showing beautiful people enjoying life — and alcohol. And because many parents and other adults use alcohol socially — having beer or wine with dinner, for example — alcohol seems harmless to many teens.
