In the United States, the culture of alcohol is quite different from the culture of alcohol in many European countries and it is forbidden for younger people to drink.

While the age when young people are allowed to drink alcohol in many countries in Europe is typically between 16 and 18, in the United States, one must be 21 years old in order to legally consume and purchase alcohol. In order to purchase cigarettes or other forms of tobacco, one must be 18 years old. While some high school students still find ways to drink and smoke tobacco, it is not until college that is becomes much more common for young people to drink and smoke. However, increasingly, vaporizers (vapes) with flavored tobacco have become very popular for young people.

Drug usage is common among young people in the United States. Everything from prescribed medications to marijuana and cocaine are becoming commonly used drugs. With the legalization of marijuana in many U.S. states, coupled with the increased availability of vapes in stores, marijuana is the en vogue drug of choice. However, there are many in-school and community programs that work to educate youth on the negative impacts of drug abuse.