Decreasing Prevalence of Alcohol Consumption Among Greek Adolescents Malamatenia Arvanitidou, Ilias Tirodimos, Ioannis Kyriakidis, Zinovia Tsinaslanidou, and Demitris Seretopoulos Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece Abstract: Aim of this study: To obtain data on alcohol consumption among school children of secondary education and to investigate any correlation to their health behaviors and parental socioeconomic status. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to students from a representative sample of 15 schools from Thessaloniki, the second (after Athens) largest metropolitan city of Greece. A total of 1185 students (505 males, 680 females) participated. Results: 286 males (56.6%) and 329 females (48.4%) reported consuming alcohol. The initiation of drinking was at the age of 13.2 years for boys and 13 years for girls. Alcohol drinking was positively associated with socio-demographic variables and negative health behaviors such as parental low level of education, lack of physical exercise, coffee consumption, and smoking. Conclusions: Although our results show a decrease in alcohol use, which is more pronounced in male students, the preva- lence of frequent alcohol consumption is among the highest in Europe’s countries. Keywords: Adolescents, alcohol, drinking, healthy behavior, trends INTRODUCTION Much concern centers on adolescents who have always been considered at high risk for licit and illicit substance experimentation and subsequent use (1–3). Furthermore, it has been proposed that the earlier the onset of substance use, the more likely the addiction (4–6). Although there are many studies in the literature concerning smoking and alcohol consumption in adolescence (7), data concerning Greek Address correspondence to Ilias Tirodimos, Lecturer of Hygiene and Epidemi- ology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. E-mail: iltirodimos@yahoo.gr The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 33: 411–417, 2007 Copyright Q Informa Healthcare ISSN: 0095-2990 print/1097-9891 online DOI: 10.1080/00952990701315384 411