Northeast > Resources > Topic Specific > Underage Drinking > Underage drinking in New York

What does recent research data show about underage drinking in New York?

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and conducted by States’ Departments of Education (not all states conducted the YRBS), surveys high school students throughout the nation on topics relating to risky behaviors. YRBS results for the State of New York in 2003 showed that reported alcohol use decreased in all categories from 2001 data. 74 percent of students reported lifetime use of alcohol compared to 80 percent in 2001. Also in 2003, 44 percent reported current use compared to 50 percent in 2001, and 25 percent reported binge drinking compared to 29 percent in 2001.

In 2003, females were more likely than males to be current drinkers (45 percent versus 43 percent) and were more likely to have had at least one drink in their lifetime (75 percent versus 73 percent of males). However, males were more likely to be binge drinkers (28 percent versus 23 percent).

Caucasian students had the highest underage drinking rates: 79 percent of students had at least one drink in their lifetime, 51 percent were current users, and 32 reported binge drinking. They were followed by Hispanics, African Americans and members of other ethnic groups (75 percent, 65 percent, and 58 percent had a drink during lifetime respectively, 41 percent, 32 percent, and 30 percent were current users respectively, and 21 percent, 12 percent and 16 percent reported binge drinking respectively.)

Source: New York YRBS Results: 2003. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/yrbss/SelQuestyear.asp?cat=3&olesc=Alcohol%20and%20Other%20Drug%Use&loc=NY

For New York City YRBS Results: 2003 see http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/episrv/episrv-youthriskbehavior.shtml

Other Related Resources:

• National underage drinking trends: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq53.cfm

• National underage drinking rate differences by geography, ethnicity, gender and age: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq52.cfm

Underage drinking rates by State:

• Connecticut: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq41.cfm
  
• Delaware: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq42.cfm
  
• Maine: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq43.cfm
  
• Maryland: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq44.cfm
  
• Massachusetts: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq45.cfm
  
• New Hampshire: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq46.cfm
  
• New Jersey: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq47.cfm
  
• Pennsylvania: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq49.cfm
  
• Rhode Island: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq50.cfm
  
• Vermont: http://www.captus.samhsa.gov/northeast/resources/faq/faq51.cfm

Please contact the Northeast CAPT at capt@edc.org for more information.