Those who begin drinking in their early teens are not only at greater risk of developing alcohol dependence at some point in their lives, but are also at greater risk of developing dependence more quickly and at younger ages, and of developing chronic, relapsing dependence.

Scientists at the Boston University School of Public Health and Youth Alcohol Prevention Center, led by Dr. Ralph Hingson, carried out a study using data from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), of people aged 18 years and older.

The research questioned 43,000 adults about their use of alcohol and other lifestyle factors and found that for those who started drinking before age 14, 47 per cent had suffered alcohol dependence at some point during their lives.

This compared with only 9 per cent who began drinking at age 21 or over which is the legal drinking age in the U.S.

The study raises concerns particularly as research shows that growing numbers of young people are experimenting with alcohol.

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