PATTERNS AND COVARIATES OF ALCOHOL-DRINKING AMONG HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS IN 10 TOWNS IN ITALY - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

A self-report questionnaire on alcohol and tobacco use was administered anonymously to 5221 high-school students in grade 9 (aged 14-15) and to 4154 students in grade 13 (aged 18-19) in 10 Italian towns. Alcohol consumption was greater among males than females and among 13th graders with respect to 9th graders. Students who drank alcoholic beverages every day were, in males and females, respectively, 22.5% and 9.0% among 9th grade and 31.3% and 10.0% among 13th grade students; those who drank 7 or more alcohol units a week were 26.8% and 11.1% among 9th grade and 42.7% and 13.9% among 13th grade students; finally, those who felt drunk at least once in the last 12 months were 19.8% and 13.9% among 9th grade and 41.4% and 19.0% among 13th grade students. Both alcohol consumption and frequency of drunkenness were found to be associated with both experimental and regular cigarette smoking and with psychoactive drug consumption, but not with socio-economic, cultural and demographic factors. Two main distinct drinking patterns were found among Italian adolescents: on the one hand, the daily drinking of moderate amount of wine with meals, together with parents, which was more common among males than females, as in other 'Latin' countries; and on the other hand, the occasional intake of alcoholic beverages in excess, especially beer and spirits, out of the family but together with peers.