al., 2006; McGue et al., 2001; Prescott and Kendler, 1999; Vieira et al., 2007). The cost, time, and logistical challenges of conducting prospective studies spanning the periods of risk for both initiation and the development of alcohol-related problems, particularly in nationally representative samples, are such that research in this area commonly makes use of retrospective assessments. Given the weight placed on retrospective reporting of age at first drink, it is critical that its reliability be established and possible sources of systematic bias be identified.
