SYNOPSIS

Abstract

Background

Alcohol consumption is a major public health issue in the world. Understanding regional
differences in its use will help in planning for better interventions.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to assess and compare prevalence, patterns and harmful
use of alcohol among college students in Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala.

Methodology

A self administered questionnaire survey done among college students. Scientific

sampling method (stratified sampling using class divisions as strata) was used to select
students. Questionnaire sought information on demography, patterns of alcohol use,
alcohol use in family and among friends, beliefs and perceptions regarding alcohol, the
CAGE questionnaire.

Introduction

Alcohol has been defined in the Webster’s dictionary as any of a series of volatile
hydroxyl compounds that are made from hydrocarbons by distillation. In common usage,
"alcohol" often refers simply to ethanol or "grain alcohol", which may be produced by
fermentation of fruits or grains with yeast and is one of the oldest and most widely used
recreational drugs in the world, typically taken in the form of an alcoholic beverage.
Ingestion in sufficient quantity results in a state known as drunkenness or intoxication.
Alcohol is a psychoactive substance which has an effect on people in many ways. It
mainly acts on central nervous system but it also affects almost all other body organs and
systems. Alcoholic beverages contain ethyl alcohol (ethanol), produced as a result of the
fermentation of starch which includes grains (beer), vegetables (vodka) and fruits (wine).
Ethyl alcohol has no taste and is a colorless liquid. Each alcoholic beverage is different in
taste and the way it looks, due to the presence of other substances which are added
deliberately or accidentally. The manufacturing process also gives a distinct flavor and
color to the alcoholic beverage. Alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through
the walls of the stomach and the small intestine, and is then quickly distributed all over
the body. All alcohol that is consumed enters the bloodstream and then goes to the brain.
It takes only a few minutes for alcohol to reach the brain and begin to act. Liver is the
main organ which metabolize alcohol, and on an average it takes about one hour for the
liver to completely digest a standard alcoholic drink.
History

Alcohol has been consumed by humanity since time immemorial. In every ancient
civilization there is evidence of use of alcoholic beverages. It has been consumed in various
forms and under various circumstances and for various reasons. In India too, alcoholic
beverages seem to have been around since the Indus Valley civilization. These people not
only fermented, but also distilled alcoholic beverages. An important thing to note here is that
during this period itself the harmful effects of alcohol were identified and the ancient Vedas
strictly prohibited its use.
In the Rig Veda it is mentioned that alcohol be strictly prohibited for Brahmins and students.
The Sutras could serve it to guests or when a bride first enters her husband’s house. The
warrior class of Kshatriyas and the trading community of Vaishyas could take alcohol
brewed from honey, mahua flowers or jaggery, but not from those made by distillation of
fermented grains. Alcoholic beverages in those days were usually from fermented grains,
flowers and fruits. Another variety was from the exudates of spathes of coconut or palmyra
trees. These exudates were fermented to yield alcoholic beverages. This variety is the so
called toddy or tari, which is distilled to give arrack.
During the days of British India, the first distillery was established to produce IMF (Indian
Made Foreign Liquor) in Kanpur in 1805. Following this, many more distilleries came up.
This led to an appreciable increase in consumption. By the time India gained her
Independence, the makers of the Constitution of India included the prohibition of
intoxicating drinks under the Directive Principles.
 PREVALENCE AND PATTERNS OF ALCOHOL USE AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS:
COMPARING SCENARIO IN JODHPUR.

QUESTIONNAIRE
FORM NO. -

S no. Question Response Code

General
information
1 College G1

2 Year of study 1. 1st year G2

2. 2nd year
3. 3rd year
3 Age (in completed years) G3
4 Sex 1. Male G4
2. Female
5 Religion 1. Buddhist G5
2. Christian
3. Hindu
4. Muslim
5. Others (please
specify)
6 Average monthly family income G6
(in Rupees) Rs
7 How much pocket money do you 1. Less than 500 G7
get per month? (in Rupees) 2. 501-1000
3. 1001-1500
4. 1501-2000
5. 2001-2500
6. More than 2500
8 Present residence 1. Home G8
2. Hostel
3. Rented house
4. Relative's place
5. Others(please
specify)
9 Type of family 1. Nuclear G9
2. Extended
3. Joint
Prevalence
and
pattern
10 Have you ever taken alcohol? 1. Yes P1
(if NO, then please go to question no. 2. No
26)
11 How old were you when you had your years P2
first drink of alcohol?
12 Where were you when you had your 1. At home P3
first drink of alcohol? 2. At friends home
3. At college
4. At hostel
5. Out on the
street, in a park,
or in some other
open area
6. At a bar, pub, or
disco
7. In a restaurant
8. Some other place
(please specify)
14 What was the reason behind your first 1. Religious occasion P4
drink of alcohol? 2. Family occasion
3. Out of curiosity
4. Because of pressure
from friends
5. To forget my
sorrows
6. To show off / to
feel older
7. Other reason
(please specify)
15 What was the type of alcohol that Beer Toddy P5
you first tried? Wine Arrack
Whisky Poka
Rum Nyongin
Brandy Rakshi
Vodka Some other
Gin type(specify)
___________

16 Who all were there when you first Family member P6

tried alcohol? Friends
Stranger
Nobody
17 Where from did you get the alcohol Home P7
when you first tried alcohol? Liquor shop
Bar
From friend
Some other place (please
specify) ____________
18 Where do you usually drink At home P8
alcohol? At friends home
(if not applicable, please go to question At college
no. 21) At hostel
Out on the street, in a
park, or in some other
open area
At a restaurant,
bar, pub, or disco
Some other place
(please specify)
____________

19 What do you usually drink? Beer Toddy P9

Wine Arrack
Whisky Poka
Rum Nyongin
Brandy Rakshi
Vodka Some other
Gin type(specify)
___________

20 What is the number of drinks you 1 Less than one drink P10
usually have on one occasion? 2 1 drink
3 2 drink
4 3 drink
5 4 drink
6 5 or more drink
21 What is the most number of drinks you 1. Less than one drink P11
have had on one occasion? 2. 1 drink
3. 2 drinks
4. 3 drinks
5. 4 drinks
6. 5 or more drinks
22 During the past 30 days, how many 1. Never P12
times did you have a hangover, feel 2. 1 or 2 times
sick, get into trouble with your family 3. 3 to 9 times
or friends, miss school, or get into 4. 10 or more times
fights as a result of drinking alcohol?
23 What is your monthly expenditure 1. Less than 500 P13
on alcoholic drinks? (in Rupees) 2. 501-1000
3. 1001-1500
4. 1501-2000
5. 2001-2500
6. More than 2500
24 How do you manage money for 1. From my pocket P14
alcoholic drinks? money
2. Borrow from
friends
3. Pool money among
friends
4. I get it free at home
5. Some other source
(please specify)

6. Not applicable
25 Factors related to friends
26 How many of your friends consume 1. None FR1
alcohol? 2. A few (2 out of 5)
3. Some (3 out of 5)
4. Most (4 out of 5)
5. All (5 out of 5)
27 If one of your best friends offered you a 1. Definitely not FR2
drink of alcohol, would you 2. Probably not
drink it? 3. Probably yes
4. Definitely yes
28 With whom do you usually drink 1. With my friends FR3
alcohol? 2. With my family
3. With anyone
who is ready to
give me
company
4. I usually drink
alone
5. Not applicable
29 Factors related to family

30 Which of your parents or guardians 1. Neither FA1

drink alcohol? 2. My father or male
guardian
3. My mother or
female guardian
4. Both
5. I do not know
31 Do any of your siblings (brothers or 1. Yes FA2
sisters) drink alcohol? 2. No
3. I do not know
32 Has anyone in your family 1. Yes FA3
discussed with you about the harmful 2. No
effect of drinking alcohol?
33 Were you ever taught in your school/ 1. Yes FA4
college about the harmful 2. No
effects of using alcohol? 3. I do not know
34 Do any of your parents/guardians know 1. Yes FA5
that you drink alcohol? 2. No
3. I don’t know
4. Not applicable
35 How often do you drink alcohol at 1. Never FA6
home? 2. Sometimes
3. Most of the time
4. Always
5. Not applicable