Drinking Behavior Among Teen-Agers: A Comparison of Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Youth

Abstract

This paper reports on two studies of New Hampshire youth concerning their use, non-use, or mis-use of beverage alcohol. The main focus in on a comparison of institutionalized delinquents with a sample of junior and senior high school students. The findings reveal considerable differences between the two groups, among which are the following: fewer students than delinquents were likely to have continued drinking after their first experience with alcohol; much more evidence of "serious" drinking behavior was detected among the delinquents than among the students; and the delinquents drank for tension relief much more frequently than did the students.