The states with the highest use of alcohol among minors – Wisconsin ranks seventh
- Vermont has the highest alcohol use among minors, with 24.66% of people aged 12-20 reporting alcohol use in the last month.
- Rhode Island (21.86%) and New Hampshire (20.59%) reported the second and third highest rates among minors.
- Mississippi ranked as the lowest rate of alcoholic use amongst minors, at 9.68%.
New findings have revealed the states that are experiencing the highest rates of alcohol use amongst minors, with Wisconsin ranking seventh.
Behavioral health treatment center, The Dawn Rehab Thailand, analyzed data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, to identify which states have the highest rate of alcohol use amongst those aged 12 to 20 years old, according to the latest available data from 2021.
Vermont recorded the highest rate of alcohol use amongst minors, with 24.66% of people aged 12-20 reporting to have used alcohol over the past month. This age group also recorded that 14.15% of people in this age category were reported to be binge drinking alcohol.
Rhode Island follows closely in second with 21.86% of minors consuming alcohol, and a binge drinking rate of 12.15%.
Ranking third is New Hampshire, with 20.59% of minors drinking alcohol, and 9.58% binge drinking.
Massachusetts is placed fourth with 20.43% of its population aged 12 to 20 drinking alcohol, while Oregon is placed fifth with 20.13%.
The 10 states with the highest rate of minors drinking alcohol:
|
Rank
|
State
|
Percentage of population aged 12-20 years old consuming alcohol
|
|
1.
|
Vermont
|
24.66%
|
|
2.
|
Rhode Island
|
21.86%
|
|
3.
|
New Hampshire
|
20.59%
|
|
4.
|
Massachusetts
|
20.40%
|
|
5.
|
Oregon
|
20.13%
|
|
6.
|
Iowa
|
19.29%
|
|
7.
|
Wisconsin
|
18.89%
|
|
8.(=)
|
Colorado
|
18.43%
|
|
8.(=)
|
Maine
|
18.43%
|
|
9.
|
North Dakota
|
18.20%
|
|
10.
|
New Jersey
|
17.98%
|
At the other end of the scale, Mississippi ranks as the state with the lowest rate of alcohol consumption amongst minors, with 9.68% recorded in the same time period – 60% lower than Vermont.
Utah has the second lowest rate (10.62%), while North Carolina follows closely with the third lowest rate (11.30%).
Across the nation, 15.14% of those aged 12 to 20 years old are recorded to drink alcohol, while 8.29% binge drink.
Minors living in the Northeast were recorded to drink more than any other state, at 17.56% – compared to those in the Midwest (16.65%), the West (14.88%), and the South (13.44%).
Speaking on the findings, Helen Wells, Clinical Director at The Dawn Rehab Thailand, said:
“Studying the patterns of underage drinking and binge drinking in different parts of America can be interesting to look at because it can help researchers to study the underlying causes of these behaviors.
“Studying the patterns of underage drinking and binge drinking in different parts of America can be interesting to look at because it can help researchers to study the underlying causes of these behaviors.
“Underage drinking poses significant health risks, including alcohol poisoning, developmental issues, and an increased likelihood of developing alcohol dependency later in life. Understanding where these behaviors are prevalent can help target interventions.”
Helen has shared her top tips for how parents can help manage their child’s alcohol use:
-
Discussing with your child early about the concerns regarding alcohol, encouraging honest and open conversation.
-
Help your child or teen how to say ‘no’ when feeling pressured.
-
Encourage fun and health alternatives to alcohol.
-
Set clear boundaries around alcohol use and set a good example by drinking responsibly yourself in front of your child.
Methodology: By collecting data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), states and areas of the US were able to be identified as the places with the most alcohol consumption amongst minors aged 12 to 20 years old.
Binge Alcohol Use is defined as drinking five or more drinks (for males) or four or
more drinks (for females) on the same occasion (i.e., at the same time or within a couple of hours of each other) on at least 1 day in a 30-day period.
Full table:
|
State
|
Percentage of population aged 12-20 years old consuming alcohol
|
Percentage of population aged 12-20 years old binge drinking
|
|
Alabama
|
11.98%
|
6.62%
|
|
Alaska
|
13.86%
|
8.62%
|
|
Arizona
|
15.89%
|
7.90%
|
|
Arkansas
|
12.32%
|
7.22%
|
|
California
|
13.82%
|
8.18%
|
|
Colorado
|
18.43%
|
11.11%
|
|
Connecticut
|
15.15%
|
8.10%
|
|
Delaware
|
15.59%
|
10.64%
|
|
Florida
|
15.41%
|
7.83%
|
|
Georgia
|
12.62%
|
6.89%
|
|
Hawaii
|
15.25%
|
7.30%
|
|
Idaho
|
12.66%
|
6.82%
|
|
Illinois
|
17.23%
|
8.87%
|
|
Indiana
|
12.58%
|
6.74%
|
|
Iowa
|
19.29%
|
9.40%
|
|
Kansas
|
14.74%
|
8.14%
|
|
Kentucky
|
13.87%
|
6.81%
|
|
Louisiana
|
13.59%
|
8.15%
|
|
Maine
|
18.43%
|
8.06%
|
|
Maryland
|
13.25%
|
8.36%
|
|
Massachusetts
|
20.40%
|
10.77%
|
|
Michigan
|
16.75%
|
9.16%
|
|
Minnesota
|
17.57%
|
9.93%
|
|
Mississippi
|
9.68%
|
5.36%
|
|
Missouri
|
13.80%
|
7.11%
|
|
Montana
|
17.79%
|
9.72%
|
|
Nebraska
|
15.80%
|
8.38%
|
|
Nevada
|
15.36%
|
9.07%
|
|
New Hampshire
|
20.59%
|
9.58%
|
|
New Jersey
|
17.98%
|
9.64%
|
|
New Mexico
|
13.79%
|
8.31%
|
|
New York
|
16.43%
|
9.24%
|
|
North Carolina
|
11.30%
|
5.96%
|
|
North Dakota
|
18.20%
|
11.70%
|
|
Ohio
|
17.95%
|
9.57%
|
|
Oklahoma
|
14.05%
|
7.42%
|
|
Oregon
|
20.13%
|
10.53%
|
|
Pennsylvania
|
16.87%
|
9.06%
|
|
Rhode Island
|
21.86%
|
12.15%
|
|
South Carolina
|
13.28%
|
6.88%
|
|
South Dakota
|
16.26%
|
9.20%
|
|
Tennessee
|
12.75%
|
7.15%
|
|
Texas
|
13.25%
|
7.10%
|
|
Utah
|
10.62%
|
6.75%
|
|
Vermont
|
24.66%
|
14.15%
|
|
Virginia
|
14.72%
|
8.29%
|
|
Washington
|
16.74%
|
9.39%
|
|
West Virginia
|
14.01%
|
8.32%
|
|
Wisconsin
|
18.89%
|
10.61%
|
|
Wyoming
|
14.96%
|
9.51%
|
Regions:
|
Region
|
Percentage of population aged 12-20 years old consuming alcohol
|
Percentage of population aged 12-20 years old binge drinking
|
|
Nationwide
|
15.14%
|
8.29%
|
|
Northeast
|
17.56%
|
9.49%
|
|
Midwest
|
16.65%
|
8.92%
|
|
South
|
13.44%
|
7.28%
|
|
West
|
14.88%
|
8.55%
|
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
