BINGE DRINKING: CONSUMPTION PRACTICESAMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. ANALYSIS OF THEQUESTIONNAIRES COMPILED BY STUDENTS OFPALERMO CITY AND PROVINCE INVOLVED IN THEPREVENTION AND INFORMATION PROJECT

The term binge drinking is used in the northern countries of Europe, to point out the consumption of great intoxicating quantities of alcohol, until feel bad, for the pure and simple desire to get drunk. Conventionally, binge drinking is the consumptionof at least six glasses of alcoholic drinks, differentones as well, in a single occasion and one after the other. Asurvey has been conducted through administration of questionnaireswith the purpose to have an idea about the territorial diffusionof such practice among the students of Palermo and province. In the months of April and May 2014, this surveyaffected 30 classes of different schools in 10 cities andprovince, involving about 740 students. The number of the studentswas inferable from the questionnaires compiled before the formative action. The sample results representative enough among teenagers (14/18 y.o.), and the female part is predominant.36% declared to spend Saturday night in pubs, while 18% in discotheques. 25% of consulted people replied to connect the time spent in pubs to alcohol. Other important factorsare: 36% abuse of alcohol just in the week-end (factor confirmingthe alarming Binge practice); 30% declare to get in the carwith a bit drunk driver (13% with a totally drunk driver). 65%declare to have an adequate knowledge of potential alcoholeffects. The question about motivations convincing a teenagerto take drugs gave the following result: 40% desire of transgression;30% desire to conform with the group; 23% the research of an easy wellness. This data convince more andmore to understand the importance of the prevention and informationrole. All this to avoid that trends and lifestyles sacrificeteenagers for the enormous economic interests staying behindthe sale of alcohol, and prepare as society more and moresalve of consumption and abuses even lethal such as alcohol.