Factors Related to the Amount of Alcohol Consumption of Youths in Urban Area

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is not seen as a social norm only by legal adults but also youths. Recently, late-adolescents have come have to accept drinking alcohol as a staple of social life and the age at first alcoholic drink has been dropping. Underage drinking has been linked to many societal problems; as such this research investigated the factors involved in the alcohol consumption behavior of youths. Through the Taro Yamane formula, we have chosen to study a sample group of 326 urban youths through questionnaires (with an IOC value equal to 0.8) on economic status, alcohol behavior, and the perception of the effects of alcohol. The data was then analyzed using a Chi-squared test. This research has found that the average urban youth drinks twice a week, with an average consumption volume of 2 bottles or cans. Spirits were the drink of choice. The primary reason for alcohol consumption was found to be peer pressure and the most likely alcohol consumption venues were entertainment centers. Students report to possess an opportunity of drinking alcohol whenever they want arises. Through hypothesis testing we have found that monthly income was the primary economic factor involved in alcohol consumption. Furthermore, alcohol behavior was found to be linked with the type of alcoholic beverage, reasons for drinking alcohol, location, and characteristics of alcohol drinking. Lastly, the subjects report that they perceive weekly alcohol consumption volume to be highly significant to detriments to health and the rate of accidents with a statistical significance of p< 0.05