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Revision with unchanged content. Despite a long history of prevention efforts and laws prohibiting the con sump tion of alcohol for those below the age of 21 years, underage drinking con tinues at both a high prevalence rate and high incidence rate. The pur pose of this research study is to explain underage drinking of alcohol con di tioned by perception of peer drinking. An acquisition model is conjectured and then a relationship within the model is explained with a national sample of students. From a developmental perspective, drinking alcohol is acquired in a reasonably ordered fashion that reflects the influences over time of the culture, family, and peers. The study measures perceptions of alcohol drinking during early adolescence when alcohol use begins the maintenance phase of the behavior. The correlation between drinking alcohol and perception of classmate drinking can be described via social learning theory. Multilevel logistic regression was used to analyze the relations. The book is addressed to researchers in social welfare, sociology, and public health.

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Has eight years of field experience where he has focused on treating and helping at-risk adolescents and young adults in the community of Miami Florida. He currently is a Project Director at DB Consulting Group, Washington, DC.

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