Drinking is also dependent on the culture in which it takes place. Thus, males differ from females in their drinking patterns, and these patterns also vary geographically. One area of concern is the amount of drunkenness being reported. Youthful drunkenness can lead to family disagreements, ruptures of friendships, violence, and crime, as well as the risk of acute problems such as alcohol poisoning and increased risk of accidents. Finally, chronic alcohol problems are a risk for a minority. Future research should focus on the reasons why adolescents drink and should not turn something that is essentially normal behavior into something deviant. Adolescents are the adults of the future and need to learn about sensible drinking. 34 references. (Author abstract modified)