[Alcohol use among Mexican medical students]

The study aims to identify patterns of alcohol consumption in Mexican medical students. This is a cross-sectional study, conducted at the University of Veracruz, Mexico. The sample comprised 263 students (84.4%). The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Student Questionnaire 2006 were used. Students were characterized by youth and women. Seventy-two percent used alcohol in the lifetime, with 12.5 years as the onset age. The frequency of consumption was low but the quantity high, with a pattern of drunkenness, mainly among men. Forty-six percent consumed beverage at a problematic level. Students perceive that parents and teachers badly assess alcoholic beverage consumption. This study contributes to the planning of preventive programs for alcohol consumption, to be applied in the university context.