Alcohol consumption patterns among young people from rural areas of Lublin Province

The article aims at the increasing of knowledge among young people coming from the country, studying at various types of schools – from the aspect of frequency of their drinking, age of alcohol initiation and preferences towards alcoholic drinks. We examined 5,000 young people from rural areas in Lublin province between the ears 2002- 2004. A screening questionnaire that included AUDIT test (the Alcohol Use Disorders Identifi cation Test) was used. The AUDIT was developed by the WHO to identify hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption. The results showed that both frequency and alcohol initiation age were related to type of school and sex of young people. We found that young people from rural areas of Lublin province do not differ from all-Polish trends in relation to these patterns. Some changes in the alcohol consumption model in Polish villagers were noted. Young people in the country clearly prefer beer drinks. Restrictions regarding alcohol sales to young people are not complied with. In almost half of the group we found alcoholism in families. Our fi ndings show that antialcoholic prophylaxis should be initiated in the fi rst years of childrens’ education. Preventive programmes should be based not only on school, but also on the family.