BINGE DRINKING: CONSUMPTION PRACTICES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. ANALYSIS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES COMPILED BY STUDENTS OF PALERMO CITY AND PROVINCE INVOLVED IN THE PREVENTION AND INFORMATION PROJECT

The term binge drinking is used in the northern countries of Europe, to point out the consumption of great intoxicating quantities of alcohol, until feel bad, for the pure and simple desire to get drunk. Conventionally, binge drinking is the consumption of at least six glasses of alcoholic drinks, different ones as well, in a single occasion and one after the other. A survey has been conducted through administration of questionnaires with the purpose to have an idea about the territorial diffusion of such practice among the students of Palermo and province. In the months of April and May 2014, this survey affected 30 classes of different schools in 10 cities and province, involving about 740 students. The number of the students was inferable from the questionnaires compiled before the formative action. The sample results representative enough among teenagers (14/18 y.o.), and the female part is predominant. 36% declared to spend Saturday night in pubs, while 18% in discotheques. 25% of consulted people replied to connect the time spent in pubs to alcohol. Other important factors are: 36% abuse of alcohol just in the week-end (factor confirming the alarming Binge practice); 30% declare to get in the car with a bit drunk driver (13% with a totally drunk driver). 65% declare to have an adequate knowledge of potential alcohol effects. The question about motivations convincing a teenager to take drugs gave the following result: 40% desire of transgression; 30% desire to conform with the group; 23% the research of an easy wellness. This data convince more and more to understand the importance of the prevention and information role. All this to avoid that trends and lifestyles sacrifice teenagers for the enormous economic interests staying behind the sale of alcohol, and prepare as society more and more salve of consumption and abuses even lethal such as alcohol.