WHY AND IN WHAT CONTEXT ADOLESCENTS OBTAIN ALCOHOL FROM ADULTS - A PILOT-STUDY

Four focus groups involving 26 male and female high school seniors wer e conducted to provide insight into the context and settings in which alcohol is provided to youth, and why some youth choose certain source s of alcohol over others. Adults over the age of 21 years were the mos t common source of alcohol used by participants. Participants believed that it was less risky to ask an older adult to purchase alcohol than to attempt to buy it themselves. Few restrictions were placed on yout h when alcohol was provided by an older adult. Youth may seek certain alcohol sources when they perceive that alcohol is available and risks of obtaining it are low.