Drinking, whether early- or late-onset, was associated with various risky behaviors that carry with them the potential to negatively alter an adolescent’s future. Relationships that were statistically significant in the univariable analyses maintained their significance in the multivariable analyses. In addition, early cigarette smoking and marijuana use were more common among the early-onset drinkers, compared with nondrinkers and the late-onset drinkers. Problem drinking behaviors in underage drinkers appear to be similar among early- and late-onset drinkers, and worse when comparing early-onset drinker to nondrinkers. However, there are other behaviors linked to early drinking, such as negative eating-related behaviors (e.g., binge eating or any past-year disordered eating behavior), sexual behaviors such as multiple sexual behaviors or intercourse without a condom, cigarette smoking, and early cigarette smoking.
