Despite a long history of prevention efforts and laws prohibiting the consumption
of alcohol for those below the age of 21 years, underage drinking
continues at both a high prevalence rate and high incidence rate. The purpose
of this research study is to explain underage drinking of alcohol conditioned
by perception of peer drinking. An acquisition model is conjectured
and then a relationship within the model is explained with a national sample
of students. From a developmental perspective, drinking alcohol is acquired
in a reasonably ordered fashion that reflects the influences over time of the
culture, family, and peers. The study measures perceptions of alcohol drinking
during early adolescence when alcohol use begins the maintenance phase of
the behavior. The correlation between drinking alcohol and perception of
classmate drinking can be described via social learning theory. Multilevel
logistic regression was used to analyze the relations. The book is addressed to
researchers in social welfare, sociology, and public health.