Speakers - 2026

Title: A look at the risk factors that contribute to alcohol consumption among adolescents and young people

Abstract

Adolescence is an important stage in individuals' physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Alcohol consumption during this period can affect those dimensions of one’s development, healthy growth, lead to unhealthy conditions, and increase the risk of alcohol- related disorders in adulthood. Statistics indicate that 26.5% of young people aged 15 to 19 consumed alcohol in the last year, which equates to around 155 million people globally. And studies show that alcohol consumption by adolescents and young people is a global health problem that can lead to issues such as unprotected sex, higher pregnancy rates, alcohol dependence in adulthood, deaths from trauma, and declines in cognitive and academic performance.

The study aimed to analyze the risk factors that converge towards alcohol consumption in adolescence and youth during the school period, using the case of Eduardo Mondlane Secondary School as a reference. It was a qualitative study, in which semi-structured interviews with 15 young people were conducted to collect data, and thematic analysis was used to process the data. The selection of participants was intentional, requiring participants to be attending general secondary education at the school referenced in the study, regardless of gender. Furthermore, only adolescents or young people who had experience with alcohol consumption during their school years were selected.

The results showed that adolescents and young people consume alcohol in search of courage and pleasure in social situations, but friendships emerged as a central factor that arouses curiosity and the desire to drink even when they cannot afford it. To prevent alcohol consumption in the school context, the interviewees pointed to internal school surveillance measures and the reorganization of teacher-student interactions as central mechanisms. These results show that alcohol consumption during the school period is influenced by social, emotional, and interpersonal factors. Its prevention requires an integrated approach that simultaneously considers individual, relational, and institutional factors.

Key takeaways from the presentation:

• Insight into the primary risk factors influencing alcohol use among adolescents and young people during the school period, with emphasis on peer pressure, social dynamics, and the search for pleasure and confidence.
• Recognition of the school environment as both a risk and protective space, depending on how teacher student relationships, peer groups, and institutional monitoring are structured.
• Knowledge of effective strategies for preventing alcohol consumption in educational settings, such as strengthening internal surveillance systems and fostering more supportive and communicative teacher–student interactions.
• Awareness of the need for an integrated prevention approach that considers individual, relational, and institutional dimensions simultaneously.

Application and benefits:

• For educators and school administrators: The presentation offers practical insights to design and implement prevention programs that address the social and emotional needs of students while promoting a safer school climate.
• For psychologists and school counselors:  The study provides evidence-based
• understanding of the emotional and interpersonal factors driving alcohol use, enabling more targeted interventions and support for at-risk students.
• For researchers and academic faculty: The findings may contribute to expanding
• research on adolescent risk behaviors, social influence, and school-based prevention, providing a foundation for future studies or teaching content on youth development and health psychology.
• For policymakers and health promoters:  The  presentation  emphasizes  the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration between education and health systems to promote well-being and prevent substance use among adolescents.