Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks on the same occasion for males or four or more drinks on the same occasion for females. Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that can lead to injuries and mental/physical health conditions. Underage binge drinking is associated with increased risk of interpersonal violence. Individuals who begin drinking earlier in life, and especially those who drink heavily, have a higher risk of developing cognitive or learning problems and alcohol use disorder later in life.

A special note about 2021 YRBS data: The data from the 2021 YRBS should be interpreted with caution as due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s YRBS was done in the fall instead of the usual spring timeline, meaning that students were overall younger when they completed the survey. In addition, students who participated in the 2021 YRBS may have had a different educational and social experience compared to previous participants. Disruptions, including remote learning, lack of social interactions and extracurricular activities, are likely reflected in the survey results.