Teenage alcohol and intoxication debut: the impact of family socialization factors, living area and participation in organized sports.

The aim of the present study was to examine the age distribution of alcohol and intoxication debut and factors associated with this among a representative sample of Norwegian teenagers. A sample of 3368 teenagers aged 12-18 years was recruited from 34 Norwegian secondary schools to complete an 87-item questionnaire under examination conditions; 5.2% (168/3239) reported drinking alcohol for the first time when 10 years or younger, 25.2% (816/3239) when they were 13 years or younger and 60.1% (1948/3239) when 16 years or younger, with 39.9% having never drunk alcohol; 1.3% (44/3239) were first intoxicated by 10 years or younger, 12.8% (418/3239) when 13 years or younger and 37.5% (1649/3239) when 16 years or younger. Pupils with early alcohol or intoxication debut (<14 years) tended to come from single-parent families, from cities, experienced less family support and a more highly organized family life, reported more frequent peer and parental drinking, and did not participate in sports. They also showed a substantially elevated total yearly current alcohol consumption, compared to the group with alcohol debut at 14 years or later (8.1 and 2.5 l pure alcohol, respectively). Poor family support but high family organization, living in single-parent families and in cities, and more frequent parental and peer drinking are associated with early alcohol debut, whereas participation in organized sport activities may delay drinking and intoxication debut in teenagers. Sports organizations should be included in drinking prevention programmes.