Young people in 'drinking societies'? Norwegian, Scottish and Swedish adolescents' perceptions of alcohol use

The paper studies young people's reported drinking behaviours and their views on various social aspects of alcohol, utilising a sample of over 4,000 rural adolescents aged 11.8-16.5 years in Norway, Scotland and Sweden. The methodology employed includes a common questionnaire, and a range of varying qualitative approaches (essays and focus group interviews). The various venue and drinking contexts used by young people, their motives for drinking and their 'learning' experiences with alcohol are described. Beyond nationality, the most powerful predictors of 'high' drinking are 'involvement with friends' and 'participation i commercial leisure.' The predictors for 'low' drinking are 'involvement in activities with parents' and 'parental concerns about drinking.' Results show that Scottish teenagers drink most, Norwegians least, and no differences in the predictor variable are found that can explain this. Results are discussed in relation to social and cultural differences, and illustrated by quotations from rural young people in Scotland and Sweden.