Adolescents and alcohol: The pursuit of sensation-seeking in a social and cultural context that promotes consumption

Abstract

This paper presents a brief review of alcohol consumption in young people. It starts with the main characteristics and changes that take place in adolescence and after that, some aspects of the alcohol culture, as well as adolescent pattern of alcohol use are comment. Later, we present some national and international data and variables that can be involved in the association between youth and alcohol. We finish showing some of the theories that can explain this behaviour and suggesting a global and comprehensive approach to this complex phenomenon.