Alcohol consumption among nursing school students in a city of western Santa Catarina state

Abstract

This quantitative research was developed with 100 Nursing degree students at a university located in western Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The purpose was to identify the consumption of alcohol among the students. Data was collected through a questionnaire applied and analyzed by the researchers, based on researched literature. The age of students varied from 18 to 31 years old, with the pre dominant age being 21. From 100 students, 90 are female and 10 male. Most of them are single, and the Catholic religion is dominant. It was discovered that 30% of them have never drunk alcoholic beverages. Of those who have, most started drinking at around ages 12 to 16, with exception of four of them, who started when they were six years old, and five of them at age seven. The students first drank within the family environment. 62% of them have gotten drunk, and 57% do not remember how many times. It was also noticed that most of them drink with friends and relatives, mainly in pubs and parties. The most consumed drink is beer, followed by wine and distilled drinks, which are consumed inside the university by students, without any control.