Heavy drinking and alcohol knowledge among Hastings fifth formers

One hundred and seventy-nine male and 195 female fifth formers from the five state secondary schools in Hastings/Havelock North completed a 29 item questionnaire. Thirty-one males (17%) and 18 females (9%) reported getting drunk at least twice a month and having five or more drinks on each drinking occasion. These teenagers were classified as heavy drinkers; the males knew less about alcohol, and had different attitudes to its use than their peers. Deficits in the alcohol knowledge of fifth formers were discovered also.