[Influence of social learning on alcohol consumption]

The history of social learning in relation to the alcohol consumption of 50 heavy and 50 average drinkers, matched according to socio- demographic factors, was compared. The main differences concerned the situation at home and relations with young colleagues. Drinking on festive occasions, together with the parents, seems to favour normal consumption in later years, even if the drinking starts at a young age. If, however, the parents used alcohol as a means to relieve tensions, or if the subject was in near contact with heavy drinking young colleagues that rather despised people who did not drink much, an association with high consumption could be noted. No significant differences have appeared in the behavior of adult acquaintances.