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 administere d 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. Alcoho l consumption was greater among males than females and among 13th grad ers with respect to 9th graders. Students who drank alcoholic beverage s every day were, in males and females, respectively, 22.5% and 9.0% a mong 9th grade and 31.3% and 10.0% among 13th grade students; those wh o 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 wh o 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 al cohol consumption and frequency of drunkenness were found to be associ ated with both experimental and regular cigarette smoking and with psy choactive drug consumption, but not with socio-economic, cultural and demographic factors. Two main distinct drinking patterns were found am ong Italian adolescents: on the one hand, the daily drinking of modera te amount of wine with meals, together with parents, which was more co mmon among males than females, as in other 'Latin' countries; and on t he other hand, the occasional intake of alcoholic beverages in excess, especially beer and spirits, out of the family but together with peer s.