Texas – October 27, 2026 -- Parents still outrank friends as the biggest influence on teens' decisions. In the 2022 MADD Parent & Teen Perceptions Survey, 60% of teens named their parents, while 23% named friends.
Teens start drinking at about age 15 on average
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism puts the average age of first alcohol use in the US at about 15. The CDC reports that the earlier someone begins drinking, the more likely they are to develop alcohol dependence later in life. The brain keeps developing until around age 25, which makes it especially vulnerable to alcohol and other substances.
The road toll is also high. AAA reports that 13,135 people were killed across the country in crashes involving a teen driver between 2019 and 2023.
Children form opinions about alcohol by age 8
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that children as young as 8 are already forming opinions about alcohol. According to the CDC, teens are more likely to drink if their parents drink frequently. When parents stay silent, teens fill the gaps with incomplete, false, or intentionally persuasive information.
MADD's Kathy Davidson calls for ongoing conversations
Davidson, a Texas-based Senior Program Specialist at MADD, says talks about underage drinking should be ongoing, honest, and clear rather than a one-time discussion. She compares them to the repeated reminders parents give about seatbelts and looking both ways. For ways to start, she points parents to MADD's Power of Parents Handbook.