Early onset of drinking as a risk factor for lifetime alcohol‐related problems

Abstract
The Data Note Series is edited by Dr Bridget Grant, Chief of Biometry at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), USA Abstract Heavy drinking among students has been a major public health concern over the past decade. A nationally representative 1988 survey on drinking practices and related problems examined the effect of age of onset of drinking on lifetime alcohol-related problems. Prevalence estimates were obtained for major demographic subgroups of the population. Results and implications are discussed in the context of minimum legal drinking age.