Trends in the Prevalence of Alcohol Use National YRBS: 1991—2017
The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) monitors health behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. The national YRBS is conducted every two years during the spring semester and provides data representative of 9th through 12th grade students in public and private schools throughout the United States.
| Percentages | Trend from 1991–20171 | Change from 2015–20172 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | ||
| Ever drank alcohol (at least one drink of alcohol on at least 1 day during their life) |
|||||||||||||||
| 81.6 | 80.9 | 80.4 | 79.1 | 81.0 | 78.2 | 74.9 | 74.3 | 75.0 | 72.5 | 70.8 | 66.2 | 63.2 | 60.4 | Decreased 1991—2017 Decreased 1991—2007 Decreased 2007—2017 |
No change |
| Drank alcohol before age 13 years (had their first drink other than a few sips) |
|||||||||||||||
| 32.7 | 32.9 | 32.4 | 31.1 | 32.2 | 29.1 | 27.8 | 25.6 | 23.8 | 21.1 | 20.5 | 18.6 | 17.2 | 15.5 | Decreased 1991—2017 No change 1991—1999 Decreased 1999—2017 |
No change |
| Current alcohol use (at least one drink of alcohol on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey) |
|||||||||||||||
| 50.8 | 48.0 | 51.6 | 50.8 | 50.0 | 47.1 | 44.9 | 43.3 | 44.7 | 41.8 | 38.7 | 34.9 | 32.8 | 29.8 | Decreased 1991—2017 Decreased 1991—2007 Decreased 2007—2017 |
No change |
- Based on linear and quadratic trend analyses using logistic regression models controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, and grade, p < 0.05. Significant linear trends (if present) across all available years are described first followed by linear changes in each segment of significant quadratic trends (if present).
- Based on t-test analysis, p < 0.05.
Page last reviewed: April 9, 2019