Citation

Krampe A, Sachse S, Sturzbecher D. Blutalkohol 2005; 42(1): 11-19.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

As part of a long-term survey "Youth in Brandenburg", in 1999, 3.209 pupils and students at training colleges from year 7 upwards and in 2001, 1.249 pupils from year 9 to year 13 were questioned with regard to their personal circumstances in school and in their free time as well as their moral concepts. The study systematically evaluates the results of the survey with regard to driving under the influence of alcohol. The 12 month prevalence is shown for driving mopeds, motorcycles and cars under the influence of alcohol. The development in frequency of drink driving in adolescents and young adults runs largely parallel with the age related increased alcohol consumption. In the age group of the 12 to 14 year olds drink driving is still an exception (4% of the adolescents). However, every 10th 15 to 17 year old relates of occasional and repeated driving under the influence of alcohol. In the case of the over 18 year olds, every fourth young adult reports on having driven under the influence of alcohol within the last 12 months. 7% of this group admits to repeatedly doing so. Young men (90% of repeated drink drivers), students at training colleges (57% of repeated drink drivers) and young multiple users, who use alcohol in conjunction with other illegal drugs (34% of repeated drink drivers) are considered to being the highest risk groups. Coincidentally young drink drivers also tend to stick out with conspicuous behaviour in other areas of life (willingness to use violence, truancy). Peer groups and the free time spent together builds the framework of drink driving for young people. Every other adolescent who drives under the influence of alcohol, does so in a group. Only youths who drive under the influence of alcohol due to frustrations are usually lone drivers (66%). After all, deviant behaviour in a group reinforces the willingness of driving under the influence of alcohol. Almost 70% of repeated drink drivers feel that they belong to a group, which is willing to use violence. The findings would suggest that early and continuous preventive work with adolescents and young adults needs to be initiated.