Social-Contextual Factors Associated with Alcohol Use among Adolescents of Traditional Alcohol User and Nonuser Ethnic Groups of Nepal.

Nepalese society has diverse ethnic groups that can be categorized based on views toward alcohol. In this study, adolescents from the traditional alcohol nonuser (TANU) and traditional alcohol user (TAU) ethnic groups of Nepal are examined for their: (1) alcohol use behavior and (2) social-contextual factors associated with alcohol use. Based on a self-administered questionnaire of adolescents, alcohol use was reported by 19.4% of TANU (N=544) and 40.1% TAU (N=309). Significant variables in a multivariate analysis of ever using alcohol were parental alcohol use, peer alcohol use, perceived parental approval, and perceived peer approval.