Alcohol use frequently onsets and shows rapid growth during the adolescent years (Duncan et al., 2006). Almost one half of eighth graders report initiation of alcohol use and 13% report recent heavy episodic drinking (Maggs and Schulenberg, 2006), and use in middle school predicts alcohol abuse or dependence at age 21 years (Guo et al., 2000). Therefore, a better understanding of factors related to the onset and escalation of alcohol use across adolescence is of critical importance.
