Abstract
One primary long-standing goal in Swedish alcohol policy is that youths should not consume alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless about 80% of teenagers age 16 years have consumed alcoholic beverages, according to annual national surveys of representative samples. In the spring of 1998 we conducted an anonymous classroom questionnaire survey of smoking, alcohol and drug habits, availability, and alcohol-related problems in all pupils in the ninth grade (age 16 years) in Stockholm County, with a participation rate of 83% (n=12,860). About 40% in each sex reported that they had drunk home-distilled spirits, and 8%–9% said they had done so at least five times. More than 25% had consumed smuggled spirits. We have analyzed the association between experiences of illegal alcohol and social factors, controlling for availability and drinking habits. Besides a very clear association with volume of drinking, there were certain other significant findings within the social sphere.
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