Factors Related to Alcohol Use Among 6th through 10th Graders: The Sarasota County Demonstration Project

Alcohol consumption by youth can produce negative health outcomes. This study identified correlates of lifetime alcohol use, recent alcohol use, and binge drinking among youth in sixth through 10th grade (n = 2,004) in Sarasota County, Fla. Results from a closed‐ended, quantitative survey acknowledged a range of personal, social, and environmental influences. Breadth of these influences supports a need for multifaceted, community‐based interventions for effective prevention of youth alcohol use. This study was unique because it represents population‐specific research in which community partners are using the findings to develop community‐specific social marketing interventions to prevent underage drinking and promote alternative behaviors.