Rising Number Of 21 Year-Olds Drinking 21 Liquors On Their Birthday Observed By Missouri Study

Jefferson, MO (AHN) - A new survey conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri observes a rise in alcoholism among American youth.

At least one-third of the men and one-fourth of the women covered in the survey engaged in the practice of imbibing 21 alcoholic drinks on their 21st birthday.

Patricia Rutledge, lead author of the report which will be published in June in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, said, "We were floored... I still can't believe it even though I've seen it because it's so dangerous," according to the Houston Chronicle.

The survey covered 2,518 students. The likelihood of consuming 21 drinks was linked to being a member of a Greek-lettered organization. "I was expecting that this 21 drinks thing would be mainly just guys, but the extent to which women are out there doing this, it's scary," Rutledge said.

She added although the study does not apply to the general American population, it is a good sampling of what's happening at many schools.

New York Daily News medical columnists Dr. David Moore and Bill Manville confirmed the prevalence of alcoholism among the youth. Quoting Stanford University professor Dr. Keith Humphreys, Manville pointed out the proportion of American youth between the ages 12 to 17 who had consumed alcoholic beverages the past 12 months was 33 percent, which is four times higher compared to those who abused prescription drugs at 9 percent.