What is this huge obsession with alcohol among teenagers?

It's available: For decades, and for decades into the future, alcohol will remain an issue for those who are not of age because of it's availability, the social nature in which adults consume it, and the effect it gives - dropping inhibitions and augmenting the "fun" aspect of being a teenager. We need to aggressively support the teens in our lives to make good, safe, responsible choices when it comes to alcohol.

Roll playing: Growing up requires a process of testing lifestyles, activities, beliefs & finding what works. Alcohol is promoted as a stress releaver that cool people use (which teens want to be)& many teens use it to "bond" in their rite of passage with groups of others at the same stage.A bit more available than "drugs", some believe it is harmless & fail to believe its use could lead to death.