The animal literature also clearly indicates that the adolescent brain is particularly sensitive to alcohol consumption (for a review, see Spear, 2014). Animal work has shown that during adolescence, particularly early adolescence, exposure to alcohol catalyses a chain of biological and behavioural alterations, which at low doses may facilitate social interactions in play and the initiation of some adult-like social behaviours (Spear, 2014). At moderate to high levels of alcohol consumption, a more severe negative cascade is observed, with evidence that alcohol use interferes with motor functioning and memory, and compromises brain plasticity. Furthermore, younger adolescent animals experience fewer alcohol-related warning signs that deter use in adult animals, including motor impairing, anxiolytic, and hangover effects. As a result, young animals often experience the beneficial effects of alcohol (the positive aspects) without the negative consequences that deter high volume and frequency drinking among adults (Spear, 2014).
