I started when I was around 12 or 13, maybe a little earlier (like 10 or 11).
I used to get my allowance and ride to the liquor store on my bike and ask hippies (who seemed to be generally sympathetic to the cause) to buy me Boone's Farm, Bacchus or Ripple wine, and a bottle for themselves.
I also liked Southern Comfort a lot, along with Malt Liquor, Champale and some other similar products which produced a nice bouquet on my breath.
I would also take my dad's blue valiums and my little brother's phenobarbital.
I didn't start alcoholic drinking until I went off to college at around age 18.
Got sober when I was 31.