Figures for quantity of alcohol use showed that 69% of adolescents drank alcohol less than six times in a typical week. Sixteen per cent of adolescents had never had a drink of alcohol, while 15% reported consuming more than six drinks in a typical week. Figures for problem alcohol use indicated that of the 84% of adolescents who drank alcohol, 24% reported drinking until drunk or consuming five or more drinks in a row more than twice in the past 12 months. Adolescent reports of the number of close friends who used alcohol showed that 19% had one close friend who drank alcohol at least once a month, 17% had two close friends who drank alcohol at least once a month and 33% had three close friends who drank alcohol at least once a month. Thirty per cent of adolescents reported that none of their close friends drank alcohol at least once a month. Each variable was associated with age (polyserial correlations r = 0.40–0.50). Friends' alcohol use was associated with adolescent own quantity of alcohol use (polychoric correlation r
