Data collected in 1974 on the drinking habits of 794 adults (426 women) in Metropolitan Boston [Massachusetts, USA] and 5617 students (2699 women) in junior and senior high schools across the USA were examined. The mean number of days of drinking per month increased from about 4.5 days by women and 5.2 days by men at age 12-13, to 8 and 11 days at age 18-25, and to 10 and 16 days at age 63+. The average number of drinks consumed on each occasion decreased from a high of about 4 drinks by women and about 5.8 drinks by mean at age 16-17, to 3 and 4 drinks at age 35-50, and to 2 and 2.5 drinks at age 63+.