A number of factors such as early adverse childhood experiences (Rothman et al. 2008; Waltrop et al. 2007), familial density of alcoholism (Hill and Yuan 1999; Hill et al. 2000a), extraversion (Hill and Yuan 1999; Hill et al. 2000a), as well as markers of altered neurodevelopment including P300 amplitude trajectories and delays in attaining age-appropriate postural sway (Hill et al. 2000a) predict earlier age of drinking onset. Earlier onset of drinking also appears to be related to the presence of behaviors often characterized as “disinhibited” or belonging to the externalizing domain.
