Decline in alcohol use among adolescents in Slovakia: a reason for optimism?
OBJECTIVE
To analyze selected indicators of alcohol use (lifetime use, initiation of drinking at ≤13 years of age, weekly use, beverage preferences, initiation of drunkenness at ≤13 years of age and lifetime drunkenness) in adolescents in Slovakia from 2006 to 2014.


METHODS
The Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC) study is a cross-sectional questionnaire study.


METHODS
A standardized uniform questionnaire was used in representative samples of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old adolescents. In Slovakia, the HBSC study was undertaken in 2006 (n = 3972), 2010 (n = 5089) and 2014 (n = 4369).


RESULTS
Over the study period, decreases were observed in weekly drinking (from 34.3% to 21.0% in 15-year-old boys and from 22.1% to 11.9% in 15-year-old girls), lifetime drinking and initiation of drinking at ≤13 years of age. In terms of beverage preferences, the reduction in beer consumption was most notable. Approximately one-third of respondents got drunk for the first time at ≤13 years of age, and this remained consistent throughout the study period.


CONCLUSIONS
The declining trend in alcohol use among adolescents in Slovakia may reflect a progressive change in the social environment and is attributable, at least in part, to policy improvements such as pricing and stricter legislation and enforcement.
Department of Public Health, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: baska@jfmed.uniba.sk.
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Baška
Department of Health Psychology, Medical Faculty, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Olomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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Madarasová-Gecková
Department of Midwifery, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Bašková
Institute of Medical Education in English, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Krajčovič
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011640:Public Policy; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Adolescents; Alcohol drinking; Epidemiology; Policy