Unsuspected influence on teenage alcohol consumption

Ask a parent whom they believe that largest source of peer pressure on the teen comes from and you will find they place the blame on best friends and girlfriends or boyfriends.  In an article recently posted in the Los Angeles time, research shows that another group of people have a larger impact on the likelihood of a teen consuming alcohol.


The best friends of a teens significant other is shown to be the biggest influence in a teens alcohol consumption according to a study done by the American Sociological Review.

"A friend's recent history of binge drinking increased a child's likelihood of doing the same (over and above his or her established drinking patterns) by 30%. And romantic partners mattered too: If the guy or girl  your kid likes has recently gotten blasted, your kid was 32% more likely than he or she already was to binge-drink too."

While this article was printed in the L.A. it holds truth to teen parents across the country.  It challenges the typical point of view parents hold about their teenagers friends and encourages them to turn their eyes to another source of influence.