SOCIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS OF THE ADOLESCENT ARE GIVEN AND TWO ARGUMENTS ARE PRESENTED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHOW THAT ALTHOUGH DRINKING MAY NOT BE THE EXACT CAUSE FOR THE COMMISSION OF DELINQUENT ACTS, IT IS A MAJOR VARIABLE IN YOUTH DELINQUENCY. CONCRETE FACTS ARE PRESENTED TO ILLUSTRATE THE LINK BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND DELINQUENCY. A SURVEY OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE FOUND THAT IN THE NORTHEAST AT LEAST 92.8 PERCENT HAD USED ALCOHOL. A GALLUP SURVEY SHOWED THAT ONE TEENAGER IN FIVE IS AFFECTED BY ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAMILY AND ONE TEENAGER IN FOUR DRINKS SOME FORM OF ALCOHOL. A MASSACHUSETTS DRUG ARREST SURVEY FOUND THAT OLDER ADOLESCENTS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE ALSO DRINKING MORE. ANALYZING THE LINK BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND DELINQUENCY, THE PAPER DISCUSSES PHYSICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS, ESPECIALLY THE LINK BETWEEN ALCOHOL USE AND AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE. U. S. AND FOREIGN STUDIES THAT POINT TO THIS CONNECTION BETWEEN CRIME AND ALCOHOL ARE CITED. THE PAPER STATES THAT TO COMBAT DELINQUENCY/ALCOHOL PROBLEMS PRIMARY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED AS WELL AS ALCOHOL/SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL ARE URGED TO INSTITUTE TRAINING IN ALCOHOL ABUSE AND THE ABUSE OF OTHER DRUGS IN ORDER TO COMBAT RISING YOUTH CRIME. REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES ARE GIVEN. (MJW)