[Alcohol consumption patterns in adolescence]. / Patrones de consumo de alcohol en la adolescencia.

This study analyses alcohol consumption patterns and the role of social influence and risk perception of this substance on its consumption, in a sample of 1,624 secondary school students from Girona aged between 12 and 18 years (49.4% boys). The results show that 20.9% of the teenagers consider themselves regular alcohol consumers and that consumption increases with age, regardless of gender. A high percentage of consumers overcomes the high-risk health threshold, mainly amongst girls because of the gender differences in the metabolism of alcohol. Moreover, the influence of the social environment (friends and family) and risk perception of alcohol both on consumption and high-risk consumption is confirmed.

Patrones de consumo de alcohol en la adolescencia / Alcohol consumption patterns in adolescence

Este estudio analiza los patrones de consumo de alcohol y el papel de la influencia social y la percepción de peligrosidad de esta sustancia en dicho consumo en una muestra de 1.624 estudiantes de Secundaria de Girona con edades comprendidas entre los 12 y los 18 años (49,4% chicos). Los resultados muestran que un 20,9% de los adolescentes se consideran consumidores habituales de alcohol, y que el consumo se incrementa con la edad, independientemente del género. Un porcentaje elevado de consumidores supera el umbral de alto riesgo para la salud, principalmente entre las chicas debido a las diferencias de género en la metabolización alcohólica. Asimismo se confirma la influencia del entorno (amigos y familiares) y de la percepción de peligrosidad del alcohol tanto en el consumo de esta sustancia como en su uso de alto riesgo(AU)

This study analyses alcohol consumption patterns and the role of social influence and risk perception of this substance on its consumption, in a sample of 1,624 secondary school students from Girona aged between 12 and 18 years (49.4% boys). The results show that 20.9% of the teenagers consider themselves regular alcohol consumers and that consumption increases with age, regardless of gender. A high percentage of consumers overcomes the high-risk health threshold, mainly amongst girls because of the gender differences in the metabolism of alcohol. Moreover, the influence of the social environment (friends and family) and risk perception of alcohol both on consumption and high-risk consumption is confirmed(AU)