[Alcoholism in young people (author's transl)]

Epidemiology should be used for studying teenagers' attitudes and behaviours concerning alcoholic beverages in order to develop health education programs designed to induce temperance in adolescence and, subsequently, in adulthood. We report on five studies carried out in France, including 5,481 subjects, both male and female, aged 13 to 26, belonging to various communities, and living in different conditions. Answers to questionnaires showed that both the first ingestion of alcohol (usually with the family) and the first inebriation (usually with friends) occur very early (at ages 10 to 12 and 15 to 16 respectively). Alcohol intake increases with age, parents' permissiveness, money allowance, and pub attendance. Health education should be undertaken very early, in kindergarten, and subsequently included in school programs each year. Cooperation among school teachers and with the school's medical staff and the childrens' parents is essential.