Drinking alcohol in excess can lead to alcoholism and a variety of adverse health affects. The earlier the age when someone starts drinking alcohol, the more pronounced and earlier these can be, and studies have shown that teens that drink have a higher risk of becoming addicted later in life. In one study, out of teens that started to drink at 14, half of them dealt with alcoholism later on, while those that began after 21 were just 9% likely to do so.

Whether part of an addition or not, drinking is a habit that people incorporate into their lives, and when it does become a problem, this habit is hard to break. The younger a person is, the harder it is to break any habit, let alone drinking. With the brain still developing and psychological development in its early stages, in terms of the formation of habits in general, drinking as a teenager can likely lead to recurring problems throughout someone’s life.

Should you worry if your teenager starts to drink a little? Teens love to rebel and do things that their parents don’t want them to do. Occasionally they might drink, and this might not signify anything in terms of having a drinking problem. If they’re caught multiple times and show no signs of wanting to do anything about it, then there might be cause for concern. Signs of depression need to be taken seriously too, because alcoholism and depression often occur together in people no matter what their age.

Under no circumstances should you ignore what could be a drinking problem in your teen. The habit will likely affect them for the rest of their lives, so rehab and therapy can go a long way in getting your kid on track and having a normal life. There are also alcoholism support groups they can join. These bring teens together with other people with addiction problems, and can build solid friendships in which they can lean on to help beat their habit.