Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour of Young People towards Alcohol in Developed Countries

By

ABSTRACT

Alcohol use is multidimensional and includes interplay of behaviours, attitudes, expectancies, and motivations. Our understanding of alcohol use needs to be informed by more than an understanding of who consumes how much. In order to more effectively assist with problem drinking, we need to grasp the role of motivation and context, the rationales and impetus of consumption. The purpose of this study is to analyse the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of young people towards alcohol in developed countries.

TABLE OF CONTENT

ABSTRACTii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Study1

Research Question3

Research Objectives3

Significance of the Study3

Nature of the Study4

Structure of the Thesis5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW6

Motives for drinking literature6

Enhancement Motives7

Social Motives8

Coping Motives9

Conformity Motives10

Knowledge or Behaviour of Young People towards Alcohol11

Types of Alcohol Consumption among Young People12

REFERENCES14

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to provide the reader a brief overview about the research topic and provides the main purpose and aim behind this research study. It comprises of the background of the problem, which provides a brief overview of the topic of the research and the problem. This chapter gives a background to the problem and explains why it is of research interest. Finally, a brief paragraph about the significance of the research topic area is also provided. This chapter also includes the structure of the thesis, which will briefly explain the flow of the thesis and subject covered in every chapter.

Background of the Study

In UK, each year, approximately 750,000 people drink alcohol for the first time in their life. About 10% of them may end up as alcoholics. Youth drinking have strikingly similar statistic as compared to young drug addicts, but most users of illegal drugs have previously had experience with the alcohol (Engels, Wiers, Lemmers & Overbeek, 2005).

According to an article by Sifferlin (2012) children in their early age are accustomed to the taste of alcohol. Many mothers believe that by if they allow their children a sip of alcohol at an early age; it may prevent them to consume alcohol when they grow up (Sifferlin, 2012). Most of the time alcohol is present in many sweets and food, which are advertised specifically for this age group. Therefore, children at the early stage of develop the taste for alcohol. For the children it is basically the first step into the adult world as alcohol is advertised for the adults (Sifferlin, 2012).

Many adults are not worried when their children come into contact with alcohol, however, this may prove to be harmful for the child in many ways. The child's nervous system is more sensitive than an adult and a small amount of alcohol (i.e. 0.5 per ml) in the blood may cause a child to become unconscious (Engels, Wiers, Lemmers & Overbeek, 2005). The lower the weight of the child is highly affected by the alcohol consumption in case of higher blood alcohol level in the body and even small amounts of alcohol can be lethal. In school children, the danger zone is approximately ...