Stability and prevalence of drinking among young adults

This data note draws upon the National Longitudinal Survey (NLS) of Labor Market Experience in Youth beginning at ages 17-24 to describe the stability and prevalence of alcohol use over a 6-year period up to ages 23-30. Approximately 70% of men and 58% of women maintained their drinking status throughout the study. The onset of current and heavier drinking decreased with increasing age while the offset of current and heavier drinking increased with increasing age. The absence of current drinking was unrelated to age for both men and women as was the presence of heavier drinking among men.