"I always stop before I get sick": a qualitative study on French adolescents alcohol use

Objective: This study aimed to examine French adolescents' experiences and perception of alcohol use. Method: Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with a total of 57 adolescents ranging from 12 to 18 years old. Measures: All interviews were conducted according to a similar discussion grid. Coding and analysis were carried out with N'vivo software. The coding grid was drawn up according to team consensus, using a cross-reference approach, based on phenomenology and discourse analysis. Results: Adolescents are mostly introduced to alcohol consumption in family contexts while peer-influence usually increases this to regular or even excessive consumption. Consuming alcohol in this way is often seen as a means of fostering and strengthening friendships as well as of assuming one's identity. Adolescents tend to play down their alcohol use, deeming it to be a transitory phase. They limit their consumption according to the effects it induces rather than to the number of drinks. Recommendations: Specific alcohol harm-reduction strategies for adolescents appear to be a promising way to prevent alcohol misuse and an innovative technique could be to focus on setting limits on alcohol consumption based on adolescents' proprioceptive sensations.