“In the U.S., alcohol is the most commonly used drug among persons under 21 years of age, and a new study says that the earlier a person starts drinking, the more likely he is to become addicted.”
“Are teenagers who have their first drink during puberty more likely to become addicted to alcohol? A new study from Germany on youth drinking says yes.”
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/ace-ywh051013.php
“Researchers at the University of Heidelberg found that the earlier someone starts consuming alcohol, the greater their risk of becoming an alcoholic. After monitoring the drinking habits of 283 young adults over a four-year period and noting their drinking behaviors at ages 19, 22 and 23, the research team found that those who started drinking earlier tended to drink more and more frequently later.”