[Alcohol consumption by public school students in Greater Metropolitan Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil].

This study analyzes alcohol consumption and health risk behaviors in adolescents, using a cross-sectional, population-based, epidemiological design from April to September 2006, within a sample stratified according to school size and shift. Using the Portuguese version of the Global School-Based Student Health Survey questionnaire, 1,878 students from 29 public schools in Greater Metropolitan Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, were analyzed by age, gender, alcohol consumption, lifetime history of intoxication, and negative consequences. Alcohol consumption in the previous 30 days was 29.8%. Adolescents reported easy acquisition of alcoholic beverages from commercial establishments and in social settings. Lifetime history of intoxication was reported by 30.5% of the students. Negative consequences were reported by 14.5%. Knowledge of risk behaviors for alcohol consumption by adolescents can provide backing for appropriate public policies in health education.