Results indicate that the proportion of boys who reported drunkenness more than 10 times increased rapidly between ages 14-16. Before the age of 25, 17 percent of the boys were registered in governmental records (police, social authorities, or psychiatric services) because of alcohol abuse. A high frequency of self-reported drunkenness at age 14-16 was found to be significantly related to registered alcohol abuse at age 18-24. It was also found, however, that 70-80 percent of the adolescent boys with the greatest frequency of drunkenness were not registered for alcohol abuse in early adult years. Using self-reported frequency of drunkenness at age 14-16 as a basis for predicting registered alcohol abuse at age 18-24 allowed correct classification of only 6 percent more boys than would have been expected by using a random procedure. The present study determined that initial drinking habits per se were of limited importance in the development of alcohol abuse in early adulthood. Results indicate that the combination of high self-reported frequency of drunkenness and appearance in government registers as early as age 15-17 constitutes a serious indication of continuing alcohol abuse. 5 tables, 30 references. (Author abstract modified)