Why do young people drink alcohol?

A summary of the factors that come into play in the consumption of this type of beverage among young people.

Alcohol consumption by young people is not something new, but it is an issue over which more and more control is being sought.

We will try to delve into the roots of this the roots of this problem to find out the possible causes that lead adolescents and even younger children to consume this substance, which is so harmful to their physical development. so harmful for their physical and mental development.

Why young people drink alcohol: social issues

Ours is a society based on the welfare state, and that implies, among other things, ensuring that all citizens enjoy the best possible health, especially if they are minors, who are even more protected. It is not surprising, therefore, that one of the issues of greatest concern to health authorities is why young people drink alcohol, and enormous efforts are being made to try to understand this problem and find solutions.

It is in adolescence, between the ages of 11 and 17, when the child goes through that period of transformation that will lead him or her to become an adult, when this problem usually arises.when this problem usually arises. However, it is clear that not all adolescents behave in the same way, and while some decide to take more risks, experiment and think less about the consequences, others choose to be more cautious and not to break the rules, thus avoiding alcohol consumption.

So why do young people drink alcohol? why do young people drink alcohol? Well, one of the possible causes, often repeated, is simply to feel integrated into their peer group. Therefore, if in their group they have decided to try beer or drinks as a form of fun, there is a high probability that the adolescent will also do so, as they seek approval, feel part of a group and also feel supported by the rest, as it is a shared activity.

Of course, many other factors come into play, some as primary as the person's own personality, which will make him or her more or less prone to impulsivity, risk-taking, etc. Also to the combination of the different protective factors and risk factors surrounding the child, and here the child's own family comes into play. But this point deserves a separate section.

Alcohol consumption in the family

But it is not only a question of the behaviors observed in the circle of friends.. In order to answer the question of why young people drink alcohol, the adolescent's view of alcohol is also particularly relevant in relation to the behaviors he or she has observed in his or her own family during childhood. If, as a child, he has been accustomed to seeing how his own parents, uncles, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc., drank alcohol at meals, at family events, and has even seen them in a state of drunkenness, it will seem normal to him and it will be easier for him to decide to try it.

Logically, it is not only a matter of mere observation, it is also important the teachings received at home in this regard, since parents have been able to consume alcohol sporadically in their presence, either at family events or with friends, but in turn make the child see that it is a product that only adults should drink, always in moderation, and make clear the possible consequences of its consumption.

This may not always be as effective as we would like, since no matter how much parents try to dissuade their children from drinking alcohol, the impact of alcohol consumption is much more powerful, the impact on them of observing adults' own behaviors is much more powerful.So, if they are told that they should not try these substances but it is common to see them (their parents) with an alcoholic beverage in their hand, the message that their reference adults are trying to convey to them verbally will hardly penetrate them.

Of course, it is not the same for a child to see his or her relatives drinking a beer or wine sporadically, in the context of a family meal or event, as it is to see them in a habitual state of drunkenness. In this case we would be talking about a problem of alcoholism whose consequences can spread to the children with much greater probability, and not only because of a replica of the alcoholism.and not only by a replication of the behavior, but also by a parental negligence and even a possible case of fetal alcohol syndrome, if it has occurred during gestation. But these would be other problems.

Evolution of alcohol consumption today

Although the problem of why young people drink alcohol is surrounded by a certain sensationalism that makes us believe that the trend is negative and that the situation is therefore much more serious today than it was a few years ago, the truth is that this is not the case. As with many other issues, the fact that the problem is now much more visible than before does not mean that it has worsened, but rather that more attention is being paid to it and therefore more measures are being taken to tackle it.

A recent study has shown that in developed countries, alcohol consumption among young people has declined over the last two decades. in developed countries over the first two decades of the 21st century. According to its conclusions, the main variable that has led to this change in trend in recent years has been the amount of free time adolescents spend with their peer group.

In this sense, a progressive change has been observed, since two decades ago, the norm for many young people was to spend every afternoon in a street context with their friends, and subsequently a whole series of extracurricular activities have been introduced that have changed the way they spend their leisure time.After that, a whole series of extracurricular activities have been introduced that have changed the way they spend their leisure time. But this is not the only variable observed that has had an influence, as the number of activities carried out in the family, between parents and children, has also increased.

Even so, the conclusions of the study should be taken with caution, since other factors that are beyond the researchers' measurements could be coming into play, such as, for example, the perception of the group's acceptance of getting drunk (which could be much higher in the past but not so much today).

Preventing alcohol consumption

Once the question of why young people drink alcohol has been analyzed, it is time to do something about it, and it is true that in recent times, more than ever, work is being done to bring about a change in the trend, which, as we have seen, is possible and is happening..

The most basic measures, of course, involve making it as difficult as possible for minors to have access to alcohol, and to this end there is strong legislation prohibiting the sale of any alcoholic beverage to anyone under the age of majority, which establishments take very seriously, otherwise they face very severe penalties.

Also work has also been done on laws relating to the advertising of high-proof alcoholic beverages (those over 20 proof), which establishments take very seriously, otherwise they face very severe penalties. (those over 20º), as is also the case with tobacco, with television advertisements for both types of products currently banned in Spain. As for low alcoholic beverages, advertising is also restricted, and spots may not be broadcast between 6:00 and 20:30, and in no case may such ads allude to abusive consumption or reflect social success, better health or performance by drinking alcohol.

On the other hand, information campaigns are carried out through the use of posters and television commercials, alerting young people to the risks of alcohol consumption. It is essential to try to communicate these messages under the communication standards of youth, so that we increase the likelihood of a positive reception of it.

Likewise, workshops and talks are also held in the educational centers themselves.This is the best way to establish a dialogue and take advantage of the moment when adolescents are receptive to the message that is being transmitted to them.

Lastly, but probably the most important point, would be to to favor a strong and healthy bond between the child and his parents, making his family a reference and a point of reference for the child's parents.It is preferable for adults to transmit the message to their children, making their family a point of reference and a protective factor against unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol consumption. It is preferable for adults to transmit to their children the message that drinking alcohol is harmful, based on clear information, not taboos.

It is clear that why young people drink alcohol is an issue that affects all levels of society and therefore we must all work together to eradicate this behavior.

Bibliographical references:

• Perez, C.L., Vinaccia, S. (2005). Prevention of alcohol abuse in university students: guidelines in the design of cost-effective programs. Mexico. Psicología y salud.
• Rossow, I., Pape, H., Torgersen, L. (2020). Decline in adolescent drinking: Some possible explanations. APSAD. Drug and Alcohol review.