Assessing the ties of socioeconomic background and gender on the frequency and the type of alcoholic beverages consumed by French adolescents

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the association of gender and standard of living with the consumption of alcoholic beverages by French adolescents.Methods: Data were examined from a national survey conducted in 2005 on a representative group of French 17-year-olds (n = 29 393). Three outcomes were considered: the frequency of alcohol consumption during the month prior the survey; the 14 alcoholic beverage types consumed, recoded into four major types (beer, wine, strong liquor, and other); and the different types of alcoholic beverages consumed. Standard of living was assessed using family occupational status (FOS) to determine the highest parental occupational category.Results: Boys reported consuming a more diverse range of alcoholic beverages than girls and showed a greater propensity for beer and strong liquor. The gender difference tends to narrow with wine and champagne. Adolescents from higher FOS were less exposed to frequent drinking but reported greater diversity in alcoholic beverages consumed. Results support the concept of a social gradient for all considered beverage types. Adolescents from higher FOS levels favor wine consumption, which tends to be moderate.Conclusion: The patterns of adolescent alcoholic beverage consumption precociously reflect those observed in the adult population. Prevention policies should take both socioeconomic and beverage types into consideration.