Findings from this research indicate drinking status, whether early- or late-onset, is associated with participating in other risky behaviors, thus supporting the PBT (Jessor & Jessor, 1977), which says adolescents’ problem behaviors do not occur randomly, but are likely to co-occur. For instance, drinkers were more likely to report early cigarette smoking. Early- and late-onset drinkers were more likely than nondrinkers to report having had sexual intercourse. A similar relationship is observed for all the other sexual behaviors, except for early sexual intercourse. The findings suggest alcohol use has a relationship with the likelihood of having sexual intercourse and multiple partners and not using a condom. This relationship may be explained not only by the PBT (Jessor & Jessor, 1977), but by other mechanisms, including the pharmacological action of alcohol which may impair judgment and lower inhibitions, and the environment (i.e., peer influences).
