Alcohol consumption in Spanish general population

Abstract

The huge number of adolescents and females who had an abusive alcohol consumption in the last two decades, has turned this substance in the first drug of abuse consumed in Spain.. The strong presence of alcohol among the Spanish society is confirmed by the fact that a great majority of the population (87%) has consumed it at least once, or because 47 % has a weekly consumption and 13% has a daily consumption. Data of a domiciliary survey on drugs made by The National Plan on Drugs of Spain in 1995, 1997 and 1999 shows the end of the tendency to increase of alcohol consumption registered in Spain. This process has been possible thanks to the stabilization registered on the ages of first alcohol use (after years of continuous reduction), the reduction of the experimentation levels (there is an increase of abstemious), and the moderation of alcohol consumption among males. But without any doubt, the most relevant fact that has taken place during this period, has been the relevant reduction of the percentages of heavy drinkers with risk behavior, both the ones who drink daily as well as the ones who drink on weekends. The stabilization of alcoholic beverage consumption and the sharp reduction of risk consumption attitudes have been possible due to the increasing awareness of the population in relation to alcohol-related problems. But a permissive social context in relation to alcohol use, still can be observed as it is confirmed by the low perception of risks associated to its consumption, notwithstanding that mortality associated to alcohol abuse is over 12,000 deaths each year.