Reasons for non-drinking among Israeli adolescents of four religions

Adolescent abstainers have largely been ignored in the literature. This article describes the reasons for not drinking of 2366 Israeli Jewish, Moslem, Druze and Christian adolescents in the north of Israel in the winter of 1994. It analyzes the findings by religious group, religiosity (secular versus religious Jews), location and gender of Jews, and school grade of Jews and Moslems. Harmful health consequences of alcohol use and religious injunction are the most prevalent reasons for abstinence among Moslems and Druze. Jews abstain mainly because of disliking the taste and/or smell of alcohol and because they 'do not care for it'. Christians abstain mainly because of the harmful effects of alcohol on health and dislike of its taste and/or smell. The implications of the results for prevention are discussed.