Effectiveness of a Community-Based Intervention to Increase Supermarket Vendors' Compliance with Age Restrictions for Alcohol Sales in Spain: A Pilot Study.

In Spain the legal age to buy alcohol is 18 years. However, official surveys show that minors perceive alcohol availability to be easy. This paper describes the impacts of a community-based intervention to increase vendors' compliance with age limits regarding alcohol sales in supermarkets. The aim of this study was to explore the association between implementation of a multicomponent intervention to reduce adolescents' alcohol use and sale of alcohol to minors in the city of Palma (Spain). Twenty trained adolescents (14-17 years old) conducted 138 alcohol test purchases in nine supermarket chains in August 2018 (baseline; n = 73) prior to the intervention, and again in January 2020 (follow-up; n = 65). Analysis was conducted according to three levels of intervention implemented across the supermarkets: (i) personnel from the supermarkets' Human Resources or Corporate Social Responsibility teams received alcohol service training as trainers (i.e., community mobilization); (ii) managers and vendors training by the capacitated trainers; and (iii) no training of managers or vendors (i.e., control group). In the supermarkets that completed the Training of Trainers and the vendors' training program, average sales decreased significantly from 76.9% in 2018 to 45.5% in 2020, asking for the age of the shopper significantly increased from 3.8% to 45.4%, and asking for proof of age significantly increased from 15.4% to 72.7%. Additionally, a statistically significant increase was observed in the visibility of prohibition to sell alcohol to minors' signs, from 61.5% to 100%. No statistically significant differences were found for the Training of Trainers intervention alone nor in the control group. In conclusion, community mobilization combined with staff training is associated with significant increases in supermarket vendors' compliance with alcohol legislation in Spain.

Community Intervention Self-Efficacy Scale for Parent Leaders (CONNECTED): Parents' Empowerment to Prevent Adolescent Alcohol Use.

Empowering parents by actively engaging them in environmental prevention strategies is a promising approach that only a few programs use. Evidence suggests that when families and the wider community are engaged, alcohol prevention is more efficient. However, due to the novelty of this approach, no specific assessment tools for measuring this type of engagement are available. The objective of this study is to design a parental empowerment measurement tool to evaluate parents' self-efficacy when engaging in environmental and community actions and to analyze its psychometric properties. A total of 132 parents active in in-school parent associations from Spain (n = 77; 58.4%) and Portugal (n = 55; 41.7%) completed a pencil and paper battery of four questionnaires, including the developed scale COmmuNity iNtervention SElf-Efficacy SCale for ParenT LEaDers (CONNECTED). The scale showed a good reliability and good test-retest stability in a three-month period. The convergent validity with other well-established instruments that assess similar constructs was significant. A preliminary confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed an acceptable fit. Environmental prevention supported by families is a promising preventive strategy because the participation and involvement of families is an effective way to address some risks in adolescence; however, new assessment tools are needed in this field. The developed scale could be a first step to identify the areas of need in a community and to monitor the progress and evaluate the outcomes of the preventive interventions implemented.

Adolescents' Alcohol Use in Botellon and Attitudes towards Alcohol Use and Prevention Policies.

Alcohol is a common drug misused by young people worldwide. Previous studies have found that attitudes towards heavy consumption are stronger predictors than general norms concerning alcohol. This study aims to explore adolescents' alcohol use and drunkenness, to understand adolescents' attitudes towards alcohol use, drunkenness and prevention approaches, and to explore associations between attitudes and personal alcohol use and demographics. Methods: Cross-sectional face-to-face survey of 410 adolescents (61.2% women) who were socializing at night in the streets of Palma (Spain). Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC), self-reported measures of alcohol use and social variables were assessed. Results: 70.7% of respondents had a BrAC score higher than 0. The full sample reported having a mean of 3.9 drunk episodes in the last month, and a mean of 7.34 in Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). A total of 30.7% were under the minimum age limit for alcohol drinking in Spain and males showed higher BrAC than females. Bivariate analyses identified some differences in attitudes across participant demographics and personal alcohol use. In conclusion, we found high levels of alcohol use and drunkenness amongst adolescents, and adolescents' attitudes towards drunkenness and prevention approaches were associated with their alcohol consumption as well as with age.

Duration of Internet use and adverse psychosocial effects among European adolescents.

Despite the significant contributions from previous studies about the prevalence of problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents in Europe, important questions remain regarding adverse consequences of PIU. This study aims to assess the relation between duration of Internet use and adverse psychosocial effects among adolescents from six European countries. The final sample included 7,351 adolescents (50.8% male and 49.2% female; mean age: 14.6±1.90) recruited from randomly selected schools within the six study sites. Results showed that 12.9% of adolescents used Internet more than 20 hours per week. There was a significant relationship between duration of Internet use and frequency of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other illegal drug use. Duration of Internet use is also significantly associated with school problems, with use of slot machines and with other psychosocial problems. These findings highlight the need to strengthen preventive efforts for reducing PIU and related consequences among adolescents. Key Words: Internet, adolescents, psychosocial problems.

Which parenting style is more protective against adolescent substance use? Evidence within the European context.

BACKGROUND: This study examines whether authoritative parenting style (characterized by warmth and strictness) is more protective against adolescent substances use than authoritarian (strictness but not warmth), indulgent (warmth but not strictness) and neglectful (neither warmth nor strictness) parenting styles. Emergent research in diverse cultural contexts (mainly Southern European and Latin American countries) questions the fact that authoritative would always be the optimum parenting style. DESIGN: Multi-factorial MANOVAs. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 7718 adolescents, 3774 males (48.9%), 11-19 year-olds (M=14.63 year-olds, SD=1.9 years) from Sweden, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic. MEASUREMENTS: Parenting style dimensions (warmth and strictness) and adolescent substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs); additionally another three adolescent outcomes were also measured (self-esteem, school performance and personal disturbances) all of them related in the literature with substance use. FINDINGS: Both indulgent and authoritative parenting styles were associated with better outcomes than authoritarian and neglectful parenting in all the countries studied. Overall, our results support the idea that in Europe the indulgent parenting style performs as well as the authoritative one since adolescents' scores in the youth outcomes were equal (on substance use and personal disturbances) or even better (on self esteem and school performance) than for authoritative parenting style. CONCLUSIONS: Parenting styles relate to substance use and other outcomes in the same way in different countries explored. The so-called indulgent parenting style appears to be as good as the authoritative in protecting against substance abuse.

Tiempo de uso de Internet y efectos psicosociales adversos en adolescentes europeos / Duration of Internet use and adverse psychosocial effects among European adolescents

Despite the significant contributions from previous studies about the prevalence of problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents in Europe, important questions remain regarding adverse consequences of PIU. This study aims to assess the relation between duration of Internet use and adverse psychosocial effects among adolescents from six European countries. The final sample included 7,351 adolescents (50.8% male and 49.2% female; mean age: 14.6±1.90) recruited from randomly selected schools within the six study sites. Results showed that 12.9% of adolescents used Internet more than 20 hours per week. There was a significant relationship between duration of Internet use and frequency of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other illegal drug use. Duration of Internet use is also significantly associated with school problems, with use of slot machines and with other psychosocial problems. These findings highlight the need to strengthen preventive efforts for reducing PIU and related consequences among adolescents

A pesar de las importantes contribuciones de los estudios realizados sobre la prevalencia del uso problemático de Internet (PIU) entre los adolescentes europeos, sigue existiendo dudas importantes con respecto a las consecuencias adversas del PIU. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la relación entre la duración del uso de Internet y los efectos psicosociales adversos en adolescentes de seis países europeos. La muestra final estuvo compuesta por 7.351 adolescentes (50,8 % varones y 49,2 % mujeres, edad media: 14,6 años ± 1,90) reclutados en escuelas seleccionadas al azar dentro de los seis países del estudio. Los resultados mostraron que el 12,9% de los adolescentes utilizaba Internet más de 20 horas a la semana. Se encontró una relación estadísticamente significativa entre la duración del uso de Internet y la frecuencia de uso de alcohol, tabaco, cannabis y otras drogas ilegales. La duración del uso de Internet también se asoció significativamente con problemas escolares, con el uso de las máquinas tragaperras y con otros problemas psicosociales. Estos resultados ponen de relieve la necesidad de fortalecer los esfuerzos en prevención para reducir el uso problemático de Internet y las consecuencias relacionadas entre los adolescentes

Parental permissiveness, control, and affect and drug use among adolescents / Permisividad, control y afecto parental y consumo de drogas en adolescentes

Background: Parents play an important role in determining the risk of children’s drug use. The aim of this study was to analyse how certain family-related variables (permissiveness toward drug use, and parental control and affect) were linked to the use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, based on young people’s self-report of such variables. Method: The sample was composed of 1,428 school children (51.8% males) aged between 11 and 19 from Mallorca (Spain). Results: We found that the young people who perceived their parents as permissive and those who perceived less maternal control and higher levels of both paternal and maternal affect were more likely to use alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. Sex differences were found within this pattern. Variables of maternal affect and control were not influential among males, whereas the general pattern was maintained among females. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of perceived permissiveness and the need of considering parent’s and children’s gender when providing control and affect, as fathers will influence male children whereas mothers will influence female children (AU)

Antecedentes: los padres juegan un papel importante a la hora de determinar el riesgo del consumo de drogas de sus hijos. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar cómo la permisividad hacia el consumo de drogas y control y afecto del padre y madre estaban relacionadas con el consumo de alcohol, tabaco y cannabis. Método: la muestra estuvo compuesta por 1.428 jóvenes (51,8% varones) de entre 11 y 19 años de Mallorca. Resultados: aquellos jóvenes que percibían a sus padres más permisivos, con menor control por parte de la madre y mayores niveles de afecto tanto materno como paterno, tenían más probabilidades de consumir alcohol, tabaco y cannabis. Se encontraron diferencias en función del sexo dentro de este patrón. Las variables de afecto y control por parte de la madre no fueron influyentes en el caso de los varones, mientras que el patrón general se mantuvo en el caso de las mujeres. Conclusiones: este estudio resalta la importancia de la permisividad percibida y es necesario tener en cuenta el sexo de padres e hijos a la hora de proporcionar afecto y control, ya que son los padres los que influyen en los hijos varones y las madres en las mujeres (AU)

Parental permissiveness, control, and affect and drug use among adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Parents play an important role in determining the risk of children's drug use. The aim of this study was to analyse how certain family-related variables (permissiveness toward drug use, and parental control and affect) were linked to the use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, based on young people's self-report of such variables. METHOD: The sample was composed of 1,428 school children (51.8% males) aged between 11 and 19 from Mallorca (Spain). RESULTS: We found that the young people who perceived their parents as permissive and those who perceived less maternal control and higher levels of both paternal and maternal affect were more likely to use alcohol, tobacco and cannabis. Sex differences were found within this pattern. Variables of maternal affect and control were not influential among males, whereas the general pattern was maintained among females. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of perceived permissiveness and the need of considering parent's and children's gender when providing control and affect, as fathers will influence male children whereas mothers will influence female children.

Blood alcohol level tests in nightlife recreational settings as a preventive tool.

BACKGROUND: Getting drunk is a common practice in the nightlife context and is related to risk behaviors. One potentially preventive strategy would be to conduct breathalyzer (blood alcohol content level-BAC) tests in situ, encouraging the young people to take responsibility. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of such a measure. METHOD: A sample of 555 young people were interviewed in the most popular nightlife recreational areas in three Spanish cities. After they answered to a brief questionnaire, the breathalyzer test was done and they were then informed of the results and also informed about the results, telling them what the maximum authorized rate of alcohol in expired air was for driving. After, they were asked about their drinking intentions for the rest of the night, and if they we going to be driving. RESULTS: Only 21.6% stated that they would stop drinking or drink less, while a similar percentage (21.5%) said they would drink even more than they had intended after finding out their BAC. The logistic regression indicated that the decision to drink more or less was influenced by the BAC level, the amount they had planned to drink prior to the test and high scores on "sensation seeking." Those who decided to drive had lower BAC levels and had planned to drink less prior to the interview. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention strategies involving attempts to change behavior through informing drinkers of their own BAC are controversial, since although for some it leads to their drinking less, in other cases the young people end up drinking more than they had planned.

Alcoholemias en contextos recreativos nocturnos como sistema de prevención / Blood Alcohol Level tests in nightlife recreational settings as a preventive tool

INTRODUCCIÓN: Emborracharse es frecuente en la vida recreativa nocturna, relacionándose con comportamientos de riesgo. Una estrategia potencialmente preventiva sería realizar pruebas de alcoholemia in situ, alentando a los jóvenes a responsabilizarse. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la eficacia de tal medida. MÉTODO: Una muestra de 555 jóvenes fue entrevistada en zonas recreativas nocturnas populares en tres ciudades españolas. Tras responder a un cuestionario, realizaron la prueba de alcoholemia y se les informó del resultado, comentándoles cuál es la alcoholemia autorizada en España para conducir. Posteriormente se les preguntó sobre sus intenciones de beber para el resto de la noche y si pensaban conducir. RESULTADOS: Tras conocer su alcoholemia sólo el 21,6% declaró que dejaría de beber o bebería menos, mientras que un porcentaje similar (21,5%) dijeron que beberían aún más de lo previsto. La regresión logística indicó que la decisión de beber más o menos venía afectada por el nivel de alcoholemia, el alcohol que se había planeado beber previamente a la prueba así como por puntuaciones altas en "búsqueda de sensaciones". Por otro lado, las personas que deciden conducir tuvieron una menor tasa de alcoholemia y ya tenían planeado beber menos el resto de la noche antes de realizar la prueba de alcoholemia. CONCLUSIONES: La realización de pruebas de alcoholemia como método preventivo da lugar a resultados contradictorios, ya que si bien en algunos casos lleva a beber menos, en otros los jóvenes terminan bebiendo más de lo que habían planeado

BACKGROUND: Getting drunk is a common practice in the nightlife context and is related to risk behaviors. One potentially preventive strategy would be to conduct breathalyzer (blood alcohol content level-BAC) tests in situ, encouraging the young people to take responsibility. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of such a measure. METHOD: A sample of 555 young people were interviewed in the most popular nightlife recreational areas in three Spanish cities. After they answered to a brief questionnaire ,the breathalyzer test was done and they were then informed of the results and also informed about the results, telling them what the maximum authorized rate of alcohol in expired air was for driving. After, they were asked about their drinking intentions for the rest of the night, and if they we going to be driving. RESULTS: Only 21.6% stated that they would stop drinking or drink less, while a similar percentage (21.5%) said they would drink even more than they had intended after finding out their BAC. The logistic regression indicated that the decision to drink more or less was influenced by the BAC level, the amount they had planned to drink prior to the test and high scores on "sensation seeking." Those who decided to drive had lower BAC levels and had planned to drink less prior to the interview. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention strategies involving attempts to change behavior through informing drinkers of their own BAC are controversial, since although for some it leads to their drinking less, in other cases the young people end up drinking more than they had planned (AU)

Cross-national study on factors that influence parents' knowledge about their children's alcohol use.

Previous research has shown that parents underestimate their children's substance use. The aim of the present work was to analyze parental estimation of their children's use of alcohol in five countries from northern, central, and southern Europe, and to explore the variables that influenced this perceptual bias. The sample comprised 1181 parent-children dyads living in Sweden, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Portugal. In accordance with the findings of previous studies, we found high parental underestimation of substance use, which was greater for more frequent alcohol use or the use of illegal drugs. This underestimation appears to be subject to some degree of sociocultural influence, and is also influenced by the severity of the children's use.

Sexual harassment among young tourists visiting Mediterranean resorts.

Despite the known increase in substance use and risky sexual behaviors among young people during holiday periods, issues of sexual harassment (SH) and having sex against one's will (SAW) have not received adequate attention. We implemented a cross-sectional airport-based study to identify experience of SH and SAW in 6,502 British and German holidaymakers aged 16-35 years visiting tourist resorts in Southern Europe (Crete, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) in summer 2009. Across all participants, 8.6 % reported SH during their holiday and 1.5 % reported SAW. Women reported higher levels of SH than heterosexual males. However, gay and bisexual males reported SH levels similar to females and the highest levels of SAW. Of 19 predictor variables tested, ten were independently associated with SH. SH was increased in those who were visitors to Mallorca or Crete, British, younger, female, gay or bisexual, frequently drunk on holiday, cocaine users, and attracted to bars where people get drunk, or where there are opportunities for sex. Among 13 predictor variables tested for SAW, four were significant. SAW reduced in those visiting Cyprus, and was strongly associated with being a gay or bisexual male, using cannabis on holiday and being attracted to bars where there were opportunities for sex. Holiday resorts represent a key location for SH and SAW, especially for holidaymakers who get drunk and use drugs. Preventive programs can raise awareness of the risks of unwanted sexual encounters on holiday and work with the tourist industry and tourist authorities to develop environments where sexual aggression is not tolerated.

Health and safety European standards for nightlife venues.

There is growing concern to understand those interventions which when effectively implemented may bring reduction in the harms associated with recreational nightlife venues. Management of drinking environments vary across Europe and we are faced with the need to set standards across European countries. The aim of this study is to present evidence highlighted by literature to a diverse sample of European recreational industry representatives and other key stakeholders (74 participants in 14 European countries), to ascertain their judgements on level of implementation, acceptance, effectiveness and regulation to propose a set of standards be implemented in European recreational nightlife settings. Results revealed that most industry representatives display high rates of agreement with those preventive interventions deemed most important by evidence, including those concerning venue management, underage checkouts, staff training and collaboration with the police. However, participants expressed doubts on further regulation fearing it would mean further obstacles such as added paperwork and costs. Indeed, in countries were night-time economy is not well developed or is already suffering the impact of the economic crisis, we found that nightlife industry is not keen to adopt measures they may perceive to lower their incomes; while in countries where these practices are widely implemented, industry representatives were reluctant for these practices to be regulated or enforced since it would require a higher level of compliance. Regulating and enforcing the standards highlighted both by literature and industry representatives should be a priority to ensure promotion of health and safety in nightlife premises.

Drunk and disorganised: relationships between bar characteristics and customer intoxication in European drinking environments.

Preventing alcohol-related harm in drinking environments is a growing international priority. Factors relating to the physical, social and staffing environments in bars can contribute to increased alcohol consumption and harm. Understanding the relationships between such factors and intoxication in European drinking environments is critical to developing appropriate interventions. We undertook a quantitative observational study in 60 bars in four European cities, in The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and the UK (n = 237 observational visits). Using a structured observational schedule, researchers recorded characteristics of the bar environment and rated customer intoxication levels. All physical bar characteristics showed associations with intoxication before interactions between them were controlled for. Hierarchical modelling found significant independent associations between intoxication and use of plastic glassware, promotion of non-alcoholic drinks (often energy drinks), permissive environments, poor washroom facilities, the presence of a dance floor, customer sexual activity/competitiveness and later observational time. Findings suggest that prevention efforts should focus on raising and enforcing managerial standards in bars. While harm reduction measures such as plastic glassware are often promoted for high risk bars, such measures are inadequate to address public health concerns and insufficient to demonstrate social responsibility.

Estándares europeos en salud y seguridad para los locales de ocio nocturno / Health and Safety European Standards for nightlife venues

Existe una preocupación creciente por comprender aquellas intervenciones que, cuando son aplicadas de forma efectiva, pueden conllevar la reducción de los daños asociados a los locales recreativos nocturnos. La gestión de los entornos donde se consume alcohol varía en toda Europa y nos enfrentamos a la necesidad de establecer normas comunes en todos los países. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la evidencia destacada por la literatura a una muestra diversa de representantes de la industria europea del ocio recreativo y a otros representantes clave (74 participantes de 14 países europeos), para conocer sus apreciaciones sobre el nivel de aplicación, aceptación, eficacia y regulación de un conjunto de estándares para su implementación en la vida recreativa nocturna en Europa. Los resultados revelan que la mayoría de los representantes de la industria muestran altos niveles de acuerdo con aquellas medidas preventivas destacadas como más importantes por la evidencia, incluyendo la gestión de los locales, el control de acceso de menores, la formación del personal y la colaboración con la policía. Sin embargo, los participantes expresaron dudas sobre una mayor regulación por temor a que significara más obstáculos tales como papeleo adicional y costes extra. De hecho, en países donde la economía nocturna no está muy desarrollada o está sufriendo el impacto de la crisis económica, encontramos que la industria recreativa no está dispuesta a adoptar medidas que temen puedan reducir sus ingresos; mientras que en los países donde estas prácticas están ampliamente implementadas, los representantes de la industria se muestran reacios a su regulación o a una aplicación más estricta de la ley, ya que requeriría de un mayor nivel de cumplimiento. Regular y exigir el estricto cumplimiento de los estándares destacados tanto por la literatura como por los representantes de la industria debe constituir una prioridad para garantizar la promoción de la salud y la seguridad en los locales de ocio nocturno(AU)

There is growing concern to understand those interventions which when effectively implemented may bring reduction in the harms associated with recreational nightlife venues. Management of drinking environments vary across Europe and we are faced with the need to set standards across European countries. The aim of this study is to present evidence highlighted by literature to a diverse sample of European recreational industry representatives and other key stakeholders (74 participants in 14 European countries), to ascertain their judgements on level of implementation, acceptance, effectiveness and regulation to propose a set of standards be implemented in European recreational nightlife settings. Results revealed that most industry representatives display high rates of agreement with those preventive interventions deemed most important by evidence, including those concerning venue management, underage checkouts, staff training and collaboration with the police. However, participants expressed doubts on further regulation fearing it would mean further obstacles such as added paperwork and costs. Indeed, in countries were night-time economy is not well developed or is already suffering the impact of the economic crisis, we found that nightlife industry is not keen to adopt measures they may perceive to lower their incomes; while in countries where these practices are widely implemented, industry representatives were reluctant for these practices to be regulated or enforced since it would require a higher level of compliance. Regulating and enforcing the standards highlighted both by literature and industry representatives should be a priority to ensure promotion of health and safety in nightlife premises(AU)

[How does family disorganization influence children's drug use? A review]. / ¿Cómo influye la desorganización familiar en el consumo de drogas de los hijos? Una revisión.

It is well known that various aspects of family functioning can influence children's drug use, both by promoting resilience and by increasing the risk of use. This review examines studies published in the last 30 years about the influence of family disorganization on children's drug use. Based on the results, we consider that disorganised families (charactirezed by parents' mental illness, parents' substance use and/or non-intact families) are more likely to have children who are drug users, both legal and illegal. Finally, we stress the need to improve the conceptualization of family disorganization and its assessment, and point out other methodological limitations found in the empirical studies reviewed.

Drinking behaviours and blood alcohol concentration in four European drinking environments: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Reducing harm in drinking environments is a growing priority for European alcohol policy yet few studies have explored nightlife drinking behaviours. This study examines alcohol consumption and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in drinking environments in four European cities. METHODS: A short questionnaire was implemented among 838 drinkers aged 16-35 in drinking environments in four European cities, in the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and the UK. Questions included self-reported alcohol use before interview and expected consumption over the remainder of the night. Breathalyser tests were used to measured breath alcohol concentration (converted to BAC) at interview. RESULTS: Most participants in the Dutch (56.2%), Spanish (59.6%) and British (61.4%) samples had preloaded (cf Slovenia 34.8%). In those drinking < 3 h at interview, there were no differences in BAC by gender or nationality. In UK participants, BAC increased significantly in those who had been drinking longer, reaching 0.13% (median) in females and 0.17% in males drinking > 5 h. In other nationalities, BAC increases were less pronounced or absent. High BAC (> 0.08%) was associated with being male, aged > 19, British and having consumed spirits. In all cities most participants intended to drink enough alcohol to constitute binge drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Different models of drinking behaviour are seen in different nightlife settings. Here, the UK sample was typified by continued increases in inebriation compared with steady, more moderate intoxication elsewhere. With the former being associated with higher health risks, European alcohol policy must work to deter this form of nightlife.

Influence of the friends’ network in drug use and violent behaviour among young people in the nightlife recreational context / Influencia de la red de amigos en el comportamiento violento de jóvenes que frecuentan contextos recreativos nocturnos

Party networks of young people are important for socialization, but can also influence their involvement in risk behaviours. We explored the individual-centred networks (7.360 friends) of 1.363 recreational nightlife users in 9 European cities in 2006, through 22 friend characteristics. As expected, deviant networks are related to violence, smoking, illegal drug use and drunkenness. However, socializing and helping networks are also associated with fighting, smoking, use of illegal drugs -except for cannabis- and getting drunk. Not having a deviant network and not having a helping/socializing network can be protective against smoking, violence and illegal drug use, as well as protecting ex-users from relapse. Closeness to friends is also a network protective factor. A possible reason why socializing networks are related to fighting, illegal drugs and drunkenness is that these behaviours are somehow desired, adaptive and prosocial in recreational contexts (AU)

Las redes de amigos de los jóvenes cuando salen a divertirse son importantes para la socialización, pero también influyen en sus conductas de riesgo. Se exploran dichas redes (7.360 amigos) en 1.363 jóvenes de 9 ciudades europeas en 2006, a través de 22 características de los amigos. Las redes desviantes están relacionadas, como se esperaba, a la violencia, el tabaquismo, el consumo de drogas ilegales y la embriaguez. Sin embargo, las redes que facilitan la socialización y proporcionan ayuda también están asociadas con una mayor facilidad en la participación en peleas, tabaquismo, uso de drogas ilegales -excepto cannabis- y emborracharse. No tener una red desviada y no tener una red que facilite la ayuda / socialización puede tener un efecto protector contra el tabaquismo, la violencia y el consumo de drogas ilegales, así como la protección de ex usuarios de la recaída. La cercanía a los amigos es también un factor de protección de la red. Una de las posibles razones por las que las redes que facilitan la socialización se relacionan con las peleas, drogas ilegales y la embriaguez es que estos comportamientos dentro de los contextos recreativos nocturnos son bien vistos, son en parte adaptativos y pro-sociales (AU)

Influence of the friends' network in drug use and violent behaviour among young people in the nightlife recreational context.

Party networks of young people are important for socialization, but can also influence their involvement in risk behaviours. We explored the individual-centred networks (7.360 friends) of 1.363 recreational nightlife users in 9 European cities in 2006, through 22 friend characteristics. As expected, deviant networks are related to violence, smoking, illegal drug use and drunkenness. However, socializing and helping networks are also associated with fighting, smoking, use of illegal drugs--except for cannabis--and getting drunk. Not having a deviant network and not having a helping/socializing network can be protective against smoking, violence and illegal drug use, as well as protecting ex-users from relapse. Closeness to friends is also a network protective factor. A possible reason why socializing networks are related to fighting, illegal drugs and drunkenness is that these behaviours are somehow desired, adaptive and prosocial in recreational contexts.

Violent Behaviour, Drunkenness, Drug use, and Social Capital in Nightlife Contexts

Violent behaviour linked to nightlife leisure contexts is a problem that particularly affects younger population groups. We carried out a survey with a sample of 1,363 young people who frequently take part in the nightlife of nine European cities (Athens, Berlin, Brno, Lisbon, Ljubljana, Liverpool, Palma, Venice and Vienna), to explore relationships between violence (carrying a weapon, being threatened or injured with a weapon, being involved in a physical fight), alcohol and drug use, and social capital.11.4% of women and 28.4% of men reported having been involved in a physical fight over the previous month. Logistical regression analyses revealed that being male and younger were predictors for the three violent behaviors; drunkenness and drug use predicted carrying a weapon and being threatened and having many friends predicted carrying a weapon and fighting. There is clearly a need for increasing attention to studying and preventing violence in recreational settings (AU)

El comportamiento violento ligado a los contextos de ocio nocturno constituye un problema que afecta particularmente a la población más joven. Se realizó una encuesta con una muestra de 1.363 jóvenes en nueve ciudades europeas (Atenas, Berlín, Brno, Lisboa, Liubliana, Liverpool, Palma de Mallorca, Venecia y Viena) entre jóvenes que participan con cierta frecuencia en la vida nocturna para explorar la violencia (llevar un arma, haber sido amenazados o heridos con un arma; haber participado en una pelea física), el uso de alcohol y drogas y el capital social. El 11.4% de las mujeres y el 28.4% de los hombres aseguraron haber participado en una pelea física durante el mes anterior. La regresión logística reveló que ser hombre y más joven es un factor de predicción de las tres conductas violentas. La embriaguez y el consumo de drogas predijo portar un arma y haber sido amenazado. Mientras que tener muchos amigos predice portar un arma y pelearse. Es necesario aumentar el interés por el estudio y la prevención de la violencia en lugares de ocio (AU)