The youth alcohol use questionnaire (variable name prefix ALQY_L_R) file provides data on lifetime and recent use (i.e., past 30 days). Questions are not specific to type of alcohol used.
All participants ages 12 years and older in the August 2021-August 2023 sample were eligible; however, only data from participants who were ages 12 to 17 were included in this file with limited access through the NCHS Research Data Center (RDC). Data from adults 18 years and older were publicly released in a separate file, ALQ_L.
Questions were self-administered using the Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI) system at the Mobile Examination Center (MEC). The ACASI enables participants to hear questions through headphones as well as read questions on the computer screen. Participants move at their own speed and touch the screen to indicate their response.
The NHANES August 2021-August 2023 youth alcohol questionnaire is available on the NHANES website.
The ACASI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors. All data was reviewed by the NHANES staff for accuracy and completeness. For details on the QA/QC process for this component, please refer to the August 2021-August 2023 MEC ACASI Procedures Manual on the NHANES website.
The data were edited for completeness, consistency, and illogical values. Because the data are based on self-reports, not all inconsistencies could be resolved. It is recommended that analysts review the data carefully prior to analysis.
The NHANES alcohol use questions for adolescents were not changed between the 2017-March 2020 and August 2021-August 2023 data collection cycles.
The NHANES August 2021-August 2023 adolescent alcohol use data were collected in the MEC; therefore, exam sample weights should be used for the analyses. Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.
| Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 or 2 days | 75 | 75 | |
| 3 | 3 to 9 days | 46 | 121 | |
| 4 | 10 to 19 days | 20 | 141 | |
| 5 | 20 to 39 days | 12 | 153 | |
| 6 | 40 to 99 days | 3 | 156 | |
| 7 | 100 or more days | 3 | 159 | |
| 77 | Refused | 1 | 160 | |
| 99 | Don't know | 0 | 160 | |
| . | Missing | 702 | 862 |
| Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I have never had a drink of alcohol, other than a few sips | 610 | 610 | End of Section |
| 2 | 8 years old or younger | 13 | 623 | |
| 3 | 9 or 10 years old | 9 | 632 | |
| 4 | 11 or 12 years old | 25 | 657 | |
| 5 | 13 or 14 years old | 38 | 695 | |
| 6 | 15 or 16 years old | 58 | 753 | |
| 7 | 17 years old or older | 15 | 768 | |
| 77 | Refused | 1 | 769 | |
| 99 | Don't know | 1 | 770 | |
| . | Missing | 92 | 862 |
| Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 days | 108 | 108 | End of Section |
| 2 | 1 or 2 days | 38 | 146 | |
| 3 | 3 to 5 days | 9 | 155 | |
| 4 | 6 to 9 days | 3 | 158 | |
| 5 | 10 to 19 days | 0 | 158 | |
| 6 | 20 to 29 days | 0 | 158 | |
| 7 | All 30 days | 1 | 159 | |
| 77 | Refused | 1 | 160 | |
| 99 | Don't know | 0 | 160 | |
| . | Missing | 702 | 862 |
| Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 days | 32 | 32 | |
| 2 | 1 day | 13 | 45 | |
| 3 | 2 days | 2 | 47 | |
| 4 | 3 to 5 days | 4 | 51 | |
| 5 | 6 to 9 days | 0 | 51 | |
| 6 | 10 to 19 days | 0 | 51 | |
| 7 | 20 or more days | 1 | 52 | |
| 77 | Refused | 0 | 52 | |
| 99 | Don't know | 0 | 52 | |
| . | Missing | 810 | 862 |