Teenage drunkenness: warning signal, transient boisterousness, or symptom of social change?

It is important for anyone working with youngsters, including counselors, physicians, psychiatrists, social workers, school administrators, and parents to familiarize themselves with the prevalence and characteristics of youthful drunkenness. Several attitudes toward this widespread adolescent behaviour are now current--and often in conflict--in our society, including viewing teenage intoxication as a symptom of problem drinking, a warning signal of future alcoholism, a reflection of cultural norms and social changes, and an expression of youthful boisterousness. Tentative conclusions are reached regarding the validity and usefulness of each of these different perspectives of youthful drinking behavior.