As a teenager, I don't hug my friends and they don't hug each other (exceptions are the boyfriend-girlfriend couples). We simply use a little wave, a smile, a nod, knuckle-to-knuckle tap, occasionally a little slap on the back, etc... . In my family, you only hug those who you a) love or b) are family or c) a long-time family friend. Sports sometimes are the exception also. Most of my friends have it this way, however, a few are the exception even when not boyfriend-girlfriend couples.

I've seen various friends hug but to me, hugs are reserved for other people as mentioned above. Even my best friends don't hug each other nor hug me. If we randomly did, then for our group/whatever you call it, it'd be considered unusual.

Banning it is rather pointless though. As long as there's no feeling up on each other, then it's no different than a high-five or pat on the back, as all of these gestures involve close physical contact. I presume though that hugging, due to how close you are and such can be seen as a more sexual gesture, however, that's a rather inaccurate and broad assumption to make.

I don't hug for the reasons stated above as well as to me and my family, and most of my non-hugging friends, you hug someone who you would also kiss affectionately. I don't plant a big sloppy kiss on my friend so I don't hug them, however, I don't view a hug as always being sexual.