Alcopops, alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems in a sample of German adolescents: is there an alcopop-specific effect?

AIMS

The objective of the present analysis was to investigate the impact of alcopops on drinking behaviour and alcohol-related negative consequences by controlling for alcohol consumption and the share of alcopops in total ethanol intake.

METHODS

Data from the 2003 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) in Germany were used. The final dataset comprised students aged 15-17 years who reported to have drunk alcohol in the past 7 days (n=5509).

MEASUREMENTS

Alcohol consumption was assessed by beverage-specific quantity measures for the last 7 days. Individuals were categorised into "non-alcopop" and "alcopop consumers"; according to the share in total ethanol intake, alcopop users were further divided into "only-alcopop", "mix-alcopop" and "mix-consumers". Analogous groups were constructed for the other beverages. Outcome measures were age of first alcohol use and drunkenness, frequency of drinking, binge drinking and drunkenness and alcohol-related problems. Hypotheses were tested using proportional hazard models, linear and logistic regressions.

FINDINGS

Controlling for overall volume few differences in consumption and problem measures were found when alcopop and non-alcopop users were compared. Further differentiation of the alcopop group also revealed only few differences. Similar associations were found for the other beverages. Only-alcopop and only-wine drinking was associated with less risky consumption patterns and negative consequences.

CONCLUSIONS

An alcopop-specific effect on problematic drinking behaviour and negative consequences could not be identified. Concerted preventive actions tackling alcohol as a whole are needed in order to gain substantial effects on alcohol use and alcohol-related problems in adolescents.