Alcohol the most popular substance among teens in Cyprus
Alcohol in Cyprus is a massive threat to public health and social development, especially for the high rates of alcohol use among youth. Alcohol constitutes the most popular substance among young people aged 16 years. The survey conducted by the Cyprus Anti-Drugs Council (CAC) also showed that 47% of respondents said they have consumed alcohol as early as age 13 and even earlier.
Nearly four in five students said they had easy access to alcohol, which is above the European average.
At the same time the phenomenon of excessive consumption of alcohol on a single occasion (binge alcohol use) increased compared to a previous survey. The upward trend is a 1% increase in boys, and 11% in girls.
Petros Agathaggelou, President of the Cyprus Medical Association, said that according to the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) the consumption of alcohol among students in Cyprus is considerably higher than the EU average, with the country ranking 3rd among 48 countries.
Alcohol consumption is a social phenomenon which should be dealt with immediately by both the family and the state, he pointed out.