Abstract
Alcohol use is a persisting social and health problem in Spain that often takes place within the recreational context. This study aims to analyze objective and self-reported measures of alcohol use and to assess the potential role of social factors on alcohol intake in open-air public settings. A total of 1475 participants (47.4% women), including 27.8% adolescents organized into 355 natural groups of friends, were interviewed while they were socializing at night in the streets of Palma (Spain). Breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), self-reported measures of alcohol use, and social variables were assessed. Men showed statistically higher scores in BrAC than women. However, adolescents’ Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores were not statistically different by gender. Correlation between objective and self-reported measures was low. Interestingly, BrAC of drinkers was lower when some friends in the group were sober. Moreover, especially in young adults, variables related to the social environment were statistically significant factors to predict BrAC. In conclusion, we found a high prevalence of alcohol intake in young people in open-air public settings, low relationship of objective and self-reported measures, and social factors linked to alcohol use, although differences by age and gender must be considered.
Highlights
Adolescents initiate alcohol use in a stage when development has not yet finished
Measurement of alcohol use often relies on self-reported measures
We found statistical differences by gender and age in breath alcohol concentration (BrAC): men had higher alcohol concentration scores than women, regardless of their age, and adolescents presented lower BrAC than people above 19 years old
Summary
Adolescents initiate alcohol use in a stage when development has not yet finished. 58.5% of adolescents consumed alcohol in the last month, and almost a quarter (23.7% boys and 25.0% girls) engaged in acute alcohol intoxication in the last month [2]. Indicates that the European average proportion of alcohol intoxication among 16 year-olds is 13%, while in Spain this average proportion reached 21%. This behavior places them at risk for negative consequences, especially during this developmental stage [4,5,6]. Measurement of alcohol use often relies on self-reported measures (i.e. number of alcoholic drinks used, perception of drunkenness).
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