By Mariana Guedes by Agostini Sóssio and Elize Massard da Fonseca*
Did you know that, even with prohibited sales, 1 in 4 Brazilian teenagers have tried alcoholic beverages? Data from the (National Alcohol and Drug Survey) show that alcohol is still present in the lives of young people between 14 and 17 years old.
Drinking is part of Brazilian culture and is socially accepted. But when consumption starts early, it stops being a habit and becomes a public health problem. Early onset has effects on emotional, physical and social development.
When alcohol kicks in too soon
Lenad reveals that 27.6% of teenagers have drunk at least once in their lives. Among them, 19.1% drank in the last year and 10.4% drank in the last month.
It may not seem like much, but consumption at this age is dangerous. The brain is still forming. These impacts are reflected below.
Among teenagers who drink, the average consumption is 3.7 drinks per occasion, but there are young people who report much larger quantities, also known as “”.
Using the instrument, which measures risky consumption patterns, the survey shows that 15.8% of adolescents have some level of harmful use or possible dependence.
Even considering all young people, 3% already have problematic consumption and 5.7% meet the criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder. This represents more than half a million Brazilian teenagers. .
And there are differences. The highest consumption is in the South (36.7%) and the Central-West (32.9%), and the lowest in the North (19.5%) and Northeast (22%). Cultural factors, easy access and oversight failures help explain these variations. Regions with greater supply and less control tend to record higher consumption rates among young people.
Why do teenagers still have access to alcohol?
Despite legal restrictions, many teenagers are able to buy drinks without proving their age. Bars, restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores rarely follow the law.
The World Health Organization warns that early alcohol consumption is influenced by ease of access, low prices and permissive standards.
In Brazil, all these factors work in favor of consumption. Alcohol is present at parties, celebrations and even on TV programs. Marketing campaigns reinforce the idea that drinking means freedom and success.
. Parties “” and “” contribute to the risk of poisoning.
All of this creates an environment that normalizes drinking and reinforces the idea that drinking is part of the growing-up process.
But early consumption is not just the responsibility of young people or families. It is a collective problem, which includes the State, industry and the media.
What can be done: information, supervision and cultural change
To change this scenario, information, supervision and cultural change are needed.
Complying with the law prohibiting sales to minors is the first step. Today, such oversight is rare. Bars, markets and events must have .
Measures such as restricting advertising and increasing prices are beginning to gain ground in the country.
The recent approval of “”, which provides for surcharges on products such as alcoholic beverages, is a step forward.
Even so, . Targeted ads on social networks and online platforms escape inspection.
Legal loopholes and industry influence, combined with social acceptance of consumption, keep the topic practically stagnant.
Therefore, it is essential that tax increases are accompanied by permanent educational policies and inspection actions, so that the impact goes beyond price and reaches behavior.
In addition to structural measures, it is essential to also act at the individual level, when identifying and supporting young people at risk. Simple tools, such as , can be used to detect dangerous consumption patterns early, a low-cost and high-impact initiative if implemented continuously.
Drinking as a teenager is no joke. It is a behavior with real and lasting consequences.
More than an individual act, alcohol consumption in adolescence reflects a permissive social environment and failures in regulation. Understanding these mechanisms is essential to guide evidence-based policies.
*Mariana Guedes de Agostini Sóssio has a PhD in Public Health from Liverpool John Moores University, in the United Kingdom. Elize Massard da Fonseca has a PhD in Social Policy. Both are professors and researchers at the São Paulo School of Business Administration at FGV (Fundação Getulio Vargas).
