Alcohol consumption in schoolchildren. Results of a questionnaire study

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Alcohol is the leading cause of acute poisoning in Trieste teenagers and one of the main public health problems in general population. Planning of effective prevention is limited by lack of information on alcohol drinking habits and notions of young people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire study has been carried out on 769 school teen-agers in Trieste and Gorizia provinces. The anonymous questionnaire concerned alcohol use and daily consumption, age and site of first approach, favourite beverages, number of acute abuse during the last year, awareness of the problem and opinion on social aspects. RESULTS: Near half of school teen-agers reported alcohol drinking. First approach occurred more frequently at home, because of curiosity or parents emulation and it was especially precocious for wine and beer (mode 8-10 yrs) respect to spirits (mode 12 yrs). In males and in both gender with increasing age higher rates of drinkers, alcohol consumption and acute poisoning were reported. More than 8 of 10 children judged the alcohol to be not a food but a drug, whose consumption is not necessary to affirm the personality. However, for more that 8 of 10 subjects alcohol warms, for about half of them it is stimulant. Only 4 of 10 were aware that its sale is forbidden by law under 16 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: Due to early initiation, family responsibility and lack of awareness of the problem, a correct alcohologic information to families and teen-agers is needed. Pediatricians can and must have a main role at this regard, but their action must be associated with reduction of our society tolerance on alcohol drinking. Language: it