title: [Alcohol purchase survey by adolescents in two cities of State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcohol use is a public health problem. Commercial availability is an important factor that encourages the use of alcohol by young people. The aim of the study was to assess how often young people under 18 could buy alcohol in shops
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents from 13 to 17 attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages at a random sample of shops in the cities of Paulinia (n=108) and Diadema (n=426), Southeastern Brazil. The study was conducted from November to December 2003 in Paulínia, and July 2004 to August 2005 in Diadema. They were told not to lie about their ages when asked and to say that the beverage was for themselves. Statistical tests performed were two-tailed and the significance level considered was p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents, under the minimum legal age, were successful in purchasing alcoholic beverages in the first attempt in 85.2% of the surveyed outlets in Paulinia, and 82.4% in Diadema. The adolescents bought alcoholic beverages just as easy in all shops researched.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data showed almost unanimous easiness of teenagers to obtain alcoholic beverages, suggesting the relevance of this problem in these cities (and probably in Brazil). The urge to adopt specific alcohol policies to this age group is highlighted, in order to reduce alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de pesquisa em álcool e outras drogas, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duailibi
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pinsky
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laranjeira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D001938:Brazil; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012926:Social Control, Formal