James Andrei Justin P. Sy^1,, Ma. Lilibeth P. Dasco¹, Frances Pola S. Arias¹, Marvin B. Delos Santos¹

Alcohol is the most common substance used among adolescents. In the Philippines, there is a fluctuating trend in the percentage of adolescent current drinkers from a downward trend in 2008 to 2013 (21.7% and 18.6%, respectively), to an upward trend in 2015 to 2018 survey (14.9% to 16.8%, respectively). Health issues related to alcohol drinking are impaired brain development, physical inactivity, malnutrition, unwanted injuries and violence. Based on secondary data analysis from the 2018 ENNS conducted by the FNRI – DOST, the study aimed to determine if there is an association between alcohol drinking status of adolescents and factors such as socio – economic characteristics and nutrient intake. A total of 15, 991 adolescents from the 2018 ENNS was included in the study. Height and weight were used to determine nutritional status. For the drinking status, a structured questionnaire was used to disaggregate adolescent non – binge drinkers from binge drinkers. Food intake was collected on 2 non-consecutive days. Physical activity status was also included as variable in the study using a developed questionnaire based on the WHO STEPS Surveillance Manual. About 16.8 % of the adolescent population were current drinkers, from the current drinkers 4.0% were identified binge drinkers. Adolescent binge drinkers were mostly male (4.5%), were not enrolled in schools (12.4%), and belonged to urban households (4.1%). Majority of energy and nutrient intake were significantly higher among adolescent binge drinkers than non-binge drinkers. Using Chi-square, factors identified to be associated with binge drinking include sex, educational status, urbanity, physical activity and calcium & iron intake. Among overweight and obese adolescents, physical activity was also associated with binge drinking. Based on logistic regression, the likelihood of binge drinking was higher among males (OR: 3.81) and those who are not enrolled in schools (OR: 2.67). The result of this study can be a basis in strengthening existing laws such as P.D. 1619, R.A. 10643 (Graphics Health Warning Law), and other city ordinances that will served as a reference to avoid underage drinking.

binge drinking, adolescent, alcohol, nutritional status, physical activity status