Binge Drinking Above and Below Twice the Adolescent Thresholds and Health-Risk Behaviors

BackgroundUnderage drinking has been associated with health-risk behaviors: unintentional and unprotected sex; physical and sexual assault; suicide; homicide; traffic and other unintentional injuries; and overdoses. Five drinks consumed over 2hours by adult males and 4 drinks by adult females typically produce blood alcohol levels (BALs) of 0.08%, which the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism considers binge drinking. Being smaller, young adolescents can reach adult binge-drinking BALs of 0.08% with fewer drinks. Previous research indicates boys ages 9 to 13 would reach 0.08% with 3 drinks, 4 drinks at ages 14 to 15, and 5 drinks at ages 16. For girls, 0.08% is reached with 3 drinks at ages 9 to 17 and 4 drinks at ages 18. This study explores whether, among a national sample of high school students, adolescent binge drinking at twice versus