Objective: To determine the levels of alcohol consumption among 8th grade (EGB) students in Cuenca, including the predisposing circumstances and factors as well as the children's motivation and attitudes.
Design: Descriptive observation study of a cross-sectional [correction of crossover] design.
Setting: Primary Care: the school population of the city of Cuenca.
Patients and other participants: 672 school-children of both sexes in 8th grade (EGB).
Measurements and main results: An anonymous questionnaire with 30 closed questions was administered. 60% of the school-children had consumed alcohol on some occasion. In 54.94% of cases, friends first invited them to drink alcohol; in 33.59%, a family member. 1.4% of the children admitted to drinking alcohol daily (2.1% of boys against 0.7% of girls). 57.3% of fathers, 24.3% of mothers, 25.8% of brothers and 38% of friends consumed alcohol habitually. 36.9% of the children did not think that alcohol was a drug.
Conclusions: The levels of alcohol consumption in the section of the population studied were high. Children began early and had easy access to alcoholic drinks. The level of consumption in their family and social environment was very high and was related to children's consumption. These results highlight the need for a preventive programme.