Tackling Youth Alcohol Culture to Promote Safer Socializing

“Young people don’t care about living or dying. They want to feel part of a group, accepted by others. Alcohol for them is a response to the problems of solitude.”

It is in this analysis, as clear and ruthless as it is realistic, that the great challenge facing the Alco-guidance Coordination must be won. Break this cause-and-effect relationship. Show young people that it is possible to have fun, to be together feeling comfortable, even without filling oneself with alcohol.

The culture of drinking among young people

“We need to prevent – says Michele Rubertelli, director of the High Garda Healthcare District – the spread of the drinking culture we see in many Nordic countries, where alcohol is consumed not for taste or pleasure, but solely with the aim of getting drunk. It is a trend we also recognize among our youth, and we must stop it.”

Many guests, yesterday afternoon at the Alcology Center of Arco, accepted the invitation of the Coordination, led by doctors Carpineta and Grottolo, masterminds of a program that is coming into full swing this year.

All law enforcement agencies were present (traffic police, carabinieri, finance police, police commissariat, municipal police of Arco and Riva), as well as many officials: the mayors of Riva and Arco, Molina, the deputy mayor of Torbole, the assessor of Dro. Finally, teachers, school principals, driving school owners, social workers dealing with a difficult reality — that of youth discomfort transforming into alcohol consumption.

The problem of alcohol consumption among young people

“These kids don’t care about dying,” says a hotel management teacher. “Breaking rules is a challenge, it becomes a reason to gather; they don’t care at what cost,” comments a nurse.

The path to follow, therefore, is to present alcohol for what it truly is. Without emphasizing or demonizing it. Those who drink too much are no smarter than others; they simply have less chance of reaching old age. Why emulate them?”