Abstract

AIM. Exploration of trends in the prevalence of frequency of alcohol consumption and episodes of drunkenness among youngsters in 1994–2006.

METHODS. This study was based on an international study of health behaviour among school-aged children in Estonia. The target group of the survey was 11-, 13- and 15-year-old schoolchildren (n = 13773), 6636 boys and 7170 girls. The frequency of alcohol consumption in the amount of one alcoholic drink was determined on the scale ’every day, every week, every month, seldom, never’. The proportion of those who claimed having been drunk was determined on the scale ’at least once, 2–3 times, 4–10 times, over 10 times, never’. Prevalence of alcohol consumption and episodes of drunkenness were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the associations between alcohol consumption and survey year and between drunkenness and survey year. The results were presented as odds ratios.

RESULTS. The prevalence of frequency of alcohol consumption and episodes of drunkenness increased in almost all age groups of boys and girls during the whole  study period. Compared to boys, the increase in the prevalence of frequency of alcohol consumption and drunkenness was more obvious among girls. During 1994–2006, alcohol consumption nearly doubled among 11- and 13-year-old girls (24.6% and 41.8% in 1994 and 41.1% and 74.8% in 2006, respectively). In 2006, the level of alcohol consumption among 15-yearold boys and girls was similar (89.6% and 89.4%, respectively). Compared to the first study year, the odds to consume alcohol and the odds to be drunk were significantly higher among boys and girls in the subsequent study years. Compared to 1994, the odds to consume alcohol was 3.09 time higher among 13-year-old boys and 4.13 times higher among 13-year-old girls, and the odds to be drunk was 2.78 times higher among 15-year-old boys and 4.81 times higher among 15-year-old girls in 2006.