[Factors influencing juvenile alcohol consumption: the role of gene-environment interactions]

Excessive alcohol consumption in youth increases the risk of subsequent alcohol use disorders. Despite the recognition of genetic and environmental factors, an appropriate aetiological model is needed to take adequate preventative steps. This is in part due to the complex interactions between genotype and environment. In this article we review research on factors determining alcohol use by adolescents and on the development of an unifying model.

The data bank Medline Advanced was searched for topical articles that were then checked for relevance and sorted according to genetic factors, environmental factors, and their interactions.

Many factors, alone and in combination with others, influence juvenile alcohol consumption. Each single variable, however, can explain only a small part of the variation in consumption behaviour.

The manifold possibilities of interactions between these factors become clear. There is a strong need for comprehensive models of juvenile alcohol use and the integration of current results into these models.