Binge drinking in Galician adolescents: Prevalence, implications and related variables

The phenomenon of botellón (binge drinking) among adolescents has contributed to the expansion and consolidation of a worrying pattern of alcohol consumption. However, there are few studies that analyze it, being this the objective of the paper. The results obtained with a sample of 3,419 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years (M= 14.94, SD= 1.89) put the prevalence of botellón at 38.4%. Its practice involves consumption rates of other substances significantly higher, being up to 16 times higher in the case of binge drinking, as well as higher risk consumption levels. Likewise, it is associated with several high-risk practices such as fights, accidents or unprotected sex. Variables such as expectations, peers consumption, curfew or spending money have been shown to be associated with this practice. All this reinforces the convenience of developing comprehensive preventive work that includes both variables of a personal nature and those more closely related to the establishment of norms and limits by the parents.