In general, the developmental trend of alcohol consumption for Americans is a rapid rise in the frequency of drinking and the quantity consumed as one transitions through adolescence that tends to peak in early adulthood and gradually declines with increased age (e.g., Johnson, Gruenewald, Treno, & Taff, 1998). Increased consumption during adolescence is thought to be a function of experimentation with adult behaviors (Shedler & Block, 1990), peer influence to consume, and the desire to conform or fit in with one’s social network (Bray, Adams, Getz, & McQueen, 2003; Duncan, Duncan, & Strycker, 2006; Jones, Hussong, Manning, & Sterrett, 2008; Kogan, Berkel, Chen, Brody, & Murry, 2005). As individuals transition into adulthood, they experience new levels of freedom and independence (Schulenberg, O’Malley, Bachman, Wadsworth, & Johnston, 1996), which places them at increased risk for engaging in risky behaviors, such as alcohol use. As individuals move through their 20’s, the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption tends to decrease. This change has been attributed to the increased responsibilities typically associated with adulthood, including marriage, parental, and work-related responsibilities (e.g., Donovan, Jessor,
