Adolescent alcohol problems: Whose responsibility is it anyway?

Abstract

• Experimentation with alcohol is a normal part of teenage psychosocial development. • Society's approach to adolescent alcohol consumption is ambiguous and sends young people mixed messages. • Epidemiological data demonstrate disturbing trends in patterns of alcohol use by young people, including widespread early-onset, regular binge drinking. • The acute harms of excess adolescent alcohol consumption are well documented, and data on long-term harms are now also emerging. • As alcohol is an integral part of our culture, we urgently need to manage teenage drinking appropriately and comprehensively, and to guide young people to a "healthy norm" for adolescent alcohol consumption.