Decline in alcohol use among adolescents in Slovakia: a reason for optimism?

•Indicators of alcohol use among adolescents in Slovakia significantly decreased between 2005 and 2014.•Indicators of drunkenness only slightly decreased between 2005 and 2014.•The findings indicate changes in preferences for beverages: decrease of wine on account of relative increase of spirits.•The decline is at least partially attributable to social and legislative changes in Slovakia.

ObjectivesTo analyze selected indicators of alcohol use (lifetime use, initiation of drinking at ≤13 years of age, weekly use, beverage preferences, initiation of drunkenness at ≤13 years of age and lifetime drunkenness) in adolescents in Slovakia from 2006 to 2014.Study designThe Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC) study is a cross-sectional questionnaire study.MethodsA standardized uniform questionnaire was used in representative samples of 11-, 13- and 15-year-old adolescents. In Slovakia, the HBSC study was undertaken in 2006 (n = 3972), 2010 (n = 5089) and 2014 (n = 4369).ResultsOver the study period, decreases were observed in weekly drinking (from 34.3% to 21.0% in 15-year-old boys and from 22.1% to 11.9% in 15-year-old girls), lifetime drinking and initiation of drinking at ≤13 years of age. In terms of beverage preferences, the reduction in beer consumption was most notable. Approximately one-third of respondents got drunk for the first time at ≤13 years of age, and this remained consistent throughout the study period.ConclusionsThe declining trend in alcohol use among adolescents in Slovakia may reflect a progressive change in the social environment and is attributable, at least in part, to policy improvements such as pricing and stricter legislation and enforcement.