TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Decline in alcohol use among adolescents in Slovakia: a reason for optimism?
JO  - Public health
A1  - Baška, T.
A1  - Madarasová-Gecková, A.
A1  - Bašková, M.
A1  - Krajčovič, A.
SP  - 203
EP  - 208
VL  - 139
IS  - 
N2  - OBJECTIVES: To analyze selected indicators of alcohol use (lifetime use, initiation of drinking at ≤13 years of age, weekly use, beverage preferences, initiation of drunkenness at ≤13 years of age and lifetime drunkenness) in adolescents in Slovakia from 2006 to 2014. STUDY DESIGN: The Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC) study is a cross-sectional questionnaire study. <br><br>METHODS: A standardized uniform questionnaire was used in representative samples of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old adolescents. In Slovakia, the HBSC study was undertaken in 2006 (n = 3972), 2010 (n = 5089) and 2014 (n = 4369). <br><br>RESULTS: Over the study period, decreases were observed in weekly drinking (from 34.3% to 21.0% in 15-year-old boys and from 22.1% to 11.9% in 15-year-old girls), lifetime drinking and initiation of drinking at ≤13 years of age. In terms of beverage preferences, the reduction in beer consumption was most notable. Approximately one-third of respondents got drunk for the first time at ≤13 years of age, and this remained consistent throughout the study period. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The declining trend in alcohol use among adolescents in Slovakia may reflect a progressive change in the social environment and is attributable, at least in part, to policy improvements such as pricing and stricter legislation and enforcement.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0033-3506
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2016.08.003
ID  - ref1
ER  -