When it comes to their children drinking alcohol, parents of teenagers in Marin typically have the mindset of, “I’m okay with it as long as I don’t see it happening.” In most cases, parents are okay with their children drinking alcohol as long as they are not legally liable for their children’s actions and at risk of being sued or charged with obstructing a social host ordinance. It is no secret that some teenagers drink alcohol despite being several years under the legal drinking age. Though a misdemeanor, teens frequently roll the dice of getting caught underage drinking. Marin County is no exception. In Marin, where academic expectations are high and mental health stoops low, teenagers often turn to drinking as an escape. From Monday morning to Friday afternoon, students count down the hours until they are released from the pressures and anxiety of high school. To some teens, the weekend is their designated time to sleep in, catch up on homework and watch their favorite movies. To others, the weekend is their designated time to party, drink and forget about their worries from the past week. In Marin, many pick the second option. Emily, a junior who wished to remain anonymous, is one of the many teens who enjoy partying on the weekends.

“I would say I drink [alcohol] twice a week. I do it because it’s fun and I think drinking makes everything easy, especially when everyone is doing it. It makes the conversations flow and everyone feels good,” Emily said.

A study done by the Center for Disease Control showed that adolescents are four times more likely to drink alcohol if their parents binge drink. Marin is a prime example of this. According to the Marin County Civil Jury, adults in Marin binge drink three times more than the national average.

Teenagers drinking alcohol is not unique to Marin County, but the frequency is. According to the National Institute of Health, as of a 2023 survey, 14.6 percent of Americans ages 12 to 20 reported that they drink monthly. This is significantly lower than the 30 percent of Redwood students who reported that they drink monthly in a November Bark survey.
Molly, a junior who wished to remain anonymous, used to drink alcohol but has stopped within the past few months.
“I think teens drink more here than in other places because their mental health is worse and we are so privileged. It’s very normal here. I have lots of friends whose parents let them drink and even buy them alcohol,” Molly said.
At Redwood, the academic standards are very high, so stress is common. Between the worries of school and sometimes overbearing influence to succeed from parents, it’s natural for teens to want to push the boundaries of what is acceptable.
“Part of [the appeal of drinking alcohol] is [ that we] are going through that rebellious phase in our lives, but also it’s really just to get away from the stress and schoolwork,” Molly said. Alcohol causes the release of dopamine, also known as the “feel good” chemical, according to WebMD. This dopamine release can make you feel more social. Scott, a junior who wished to remain anonymous, said he relates to this feeling.
“I definitely have more fun when I am drunk because of the dopamine rush it gives me…I just feel happier,” Scott said.
Often followed after a night out drinking alcohol is the dreaded “hangxiety.”

“I had a lot of [social] anxiety and I think I used to drink to ease my social anxiety because drinking made me feel more comfortable but afterward I would get more anxiety because I would think ‘Why did I just do that?’,” Molly said.
Though “hangxiety” is not a pleasant experience, most teens choose to suffer again and again in return for another night out.
“Sometimes when I am drinking, I do things I regret and it makes me feel like I should never drink again. But I never listen to those feelings,” Emily said.
Despite the normalization of drinking alcohol in high school, there are reasons that many don’t. Junior Owen Malone is one of the teenagers who chooses to remain sober of alcohol.
“I don’t have a desire to [drink alcohol], and there’s alcoholism in my family,” Malone said.
Over his years in high school, Malone has observed his friends develop unhealthy relationships with alcohol, and many give into the pressure to drink when at parties.
“I’ve seen people become a lot less motivated, academically and in general, after they started drinking [alcohol] more,” Malone said.
Peer pressure is commonly credited as one of the many reasons teenagers drink. While it can definitely be an issue, it is not as common as people may think. The true culprit is implicit peer pressure. Implicit peer pressure occurs when someone feels compelled to conform to a group’s norms or behaviors without being asked to. Scott is one of the many victims of this feeling of needing to fit in.
“I have much less fun when I am sober and everyone else around me is drunk because it is hard to match their energy. Sometimes I feel like I need drinks to have fun,” Scott said.
Whether teenagers drink alcohol to forget about their stress, to have a fun time or rebel from their parents, it seems to have taken over teenage culture in Marin.
“I am always excited for the weekend to come so I can drink,” Emily said.