Today’s teens may not be bullied or teased into drinking,
but they are apt to follow their friends’ leads. Researchers
have found that peer influence, a more subtle form of peer
pressure, can be a powerful predictor of alcohol use among
teens. Studies show that the primary factors linking adolescent
friends are age and gender, but the next most important
are behaviors, including alcohol use.
Alcohol use often begins, or continues, when teens who
have similar attitudes towards alcohol spend time together.