According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health nearly 7.93 million 12-20 year old girls reported consuming alcohol in the past year.

In 2011, more males than females ages 12 to 20 reported past month alcohol consumption (26% v. 25%, respectively), binge drinking (18% v. 14%) and heavy drinking (6% v. 3%). However, among 12- to 17-year olds, the percentage of males and females who report drinking in the past month is the same (13%). (Source: SAMHSA, 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2012)

Among college students long-established and large gender differences exist in the prevalence of binge drinking. According to the 2011 Monitoring the Future Study 43% of college males report having consumed five or more drinks in a row during the previous two weeks compared with 32% of their female peers. This once narrowing gender difference has slowed with both male and female binge drinking rates declining.  However, male college students are significantly more likely to engage in these extreme levels of binge drinking – 24% of males compared to 7% of female college students reported having 10 or more drinks in a row.  (Source: Monitoring the Future 2011 Volume II, 2012)