• Evidence suggests that alcohol use by peers is a strong predictor of adolescent use and misuse of alcohol.¹ 

• According to a 1995 national survey of fourth through sixth graders who read the Weekly Reader, 30% of students reported that they received "a lot" of pressure from their classmates to drink beer.² 

• Three-quarters of eighth graders reported having friends who use alcohol. In fact, one-fourth of eighth graders said that most or all of their friends drink.³ 

• Among eighth graders, students with higher grade point averages reported less alcohol use in the past month.⁴  

• Among eighth graders, higher truancy rates were associated with greater rates of alcohol use in the past month.⁴

• One national study found that students are less likely to use alcohol if they are close to people at school, are a part of their school, and if they feel that teachers treat students fairly.⁵ 

• According to the 1995 Weekly Reader survey, over half (54%) of fourth through sixth graders reported learning about the dangers of illicit drugs at school, but less than a third (30%) learned about the dangers of drinking and smoking at school.² 

• In 1995, 76% of seventh through twelfth grade teachers polled felt that underage student drinking was a serious or somewhat serious problem.⁶