Alcohol as a tool for integration
A survey carried out in 2005 by CRIOC (Centre de Recherche et d'Information des Organisations de Consommateurs) on 2196 young Belgians aged between 10 and 17 shows that it is usually the family or friends who introduce young people to alcohol. Alcohol consumption seems to affect boys slightly more than girls. Is drinking by girls frowned upon in our society, while drinking by boys is generally better accepted and sometimes even ritualized? |
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Some young people drink just to see what it feels like, others for the taste of it; some do it to relax or loosen up ; others still to escape some form of malaise or to become "big". Finally, some do it simply for social mimicry, to fit in with a group and avoid being discriminated against or judged. In fact, you only have to watch TV series or advertisements to realize the presence of alcoholic beverages in our society.
| It's not always easy to refuse a glass of alcohol, because in the popular imagination, alcohol consumption is often valued. By preferring to avoid drinking, we sometimes fear being criticized or rejected by our friends. Yet friendship is based on respect for differences and individual freedoms. By gaining a little self-confidence and learning to trust others more, we can overcome our fears. Unfortunately, joining groups such as certain student circles is sometimes accompanied by the consumption of very large quantities of alcohol in a relatively short space of time. In this case, it's a sort of hazing or initiation rite that can be difficult to avoid if you want to join the group at all costs. |
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