Any adult and most minors have access to alcohol. People celebrate with alcohol, drink at sporting events, parties, and at home with dinner. Social pressure, especially during college years, encourage people to drink in excess. Most people learn to control their alcohol intake, while others continue to abuse alcohol to the point of alcoholism.
While almost everyone is exposed to alcohol in some way or another, the immediate families and friends of alcoholics are exposed to alcohol much more in more detrimental ways.
Children of alcoholics have less sensitivity to the negative effects of alcohol, like body sway and intoxication. Fifty percent of those with alcoholism have at least one parent with alcoholism, and those with a family history have a more severe disease course than those without such a history.