In a country like Italy - always rich in bizarre news and which not always put
the emphasis on the good qualities of Italians, news which frequently tells
about not truly praiseworthy and noble facts - when there are good news, besides
pleasing quite a lot, it is right to let others know about them. At least for
the satisfaction of knowing that also in Italy sometimes happens something good.
During the few last months, the news are rightly focusing on the promotion of
the so called culture of wise drinking, with particular preoccupation for
young people, that generation of which will depend the future of our planet and
of our society. The preoccupation - absolutely justifiable and founded - based
on the not intelligent and not agreeable behavior in which young people adopt
an excessive, inadequate and deplorable consumption of alcoholic beverages, with
evident and predictable consequences in behavior and health.
DiWineTaste has discussed many times about this preoccupying trend in young
people - to tell the truth, it is something concerning adults too - because we
are still convinced the wise consumption of alcoholic beverages it is not
obtained with prohibitions, but with the spreading of a proper culture and
information. To prohibit and to forbid do not mean to educate and to form, it
simply means to repress, and repression inevitably causes feelings of revolt and
revenge which will be manifested to the first possible occasion. We all have
been young and we all know some behavior are adopted for the simple
pleasure of breaking the rules and to show others how strong we are. We have
always supported - and we still continue to do so - the correct and responsible
consumption of alcoholic beverages is exclusively obtained with the spreading
and the promotion of an intelligent culture, while trying to let people
understand, because young people can be considered in many ways, but they
certainly are not stupid. Young people pay attention to the ones who tell them
things in the right way - with honesty and sincerity - giving them the
possibility of forming a personal conscience. No one is stupid.
A research promoted by Federvini (an Italian federation of wine producers) and
done by ISPO (Istituto per gli Studi sulla Pubblica Opinione, Institute
for Studies About Public Opinion) led by Mr. Renato Mannheimer, and having as a
subject the consumption of alcoholic beverages among Italian young people,
brings out interesting facts. Despite this news can be good when considered from
a comparative point of view, it however brings out the fact there is
still a lot to do in order to sensitize young people of the consumption of
alcoholic beverages. The research done by ISPO brings out the consumption of
alcoholic beverages among Italian young people is lower than the ones in other
European countries. A news which is certainly good - if we consider it as
something exclusively concerning Italy - and which emphasizes how among Italian
young people it tends to prevail a form of culture of responsible drinking. The
research focused on subjects having an age from 14 to 44 years, living in Italy,
France, Germany and United Kingdom.
One of the main results emerging from this research done by ISPO emphasizes that
«the trend to an excessive consumption of alcohol in Italy is common in a small
part of the country and greatly varies according to age». Specifically, in Italy
the excess of consumption of alcoholic beverages is common for the 19% of
subjects from 16 to 17 years, and reaches 23% from 18 to 19 years. The trend
drops to 16% in subjects from 20 to 22 years, and drops to 12% in subjects
from 23 to 29 years. In Germany and in the United Kingdom, the excessive
consumption of alcoholic beverages is constant in all ages and it is higher than
Italy. In United Kingdom the excess of alcohol is common for the 33% of young
people of 14 years, 40% of those having 20 years, dropping to 25% in subjects
of 40 years. In Germany reaches 50% in subjects of 14 years, 45% in subjects
of 20 years and 22% in those of 40 years.
Also the preoccupying and absolutely silly habit of binge drinking - that
is the consumption of alcoholic beverages with the purpose of getting drunk -
seems to be less frequent in Italy than in the rest of Europe. In Italy only
10% of young people admit to drink in excessive quantities, whereas in the
United Kingdom the figure drops to 23% and to 27% in Germany. As for the first
experience of excessive consumption of alcohol in order to get drunk, in Italy
this happens from 17 to 18 years, whereas in Germany and in United Kingdom the
age is from 15 to 16 years. 35% of the subjects surveyed in this study said
they never got drunk, the figure drops to 23% in France, 14% in Germany,
whereas in the United Kingdom this figure drops to 8%. Among the many results
of this study, one in particular is pretty interesting. In Italy seems to
prevail a responsible consumption instead of an excessive consumption or abuse
of alcoholic beverages. In Italy it is in fact common the habit of spreading the
consumption of alcohol in the course of the week: 25% in Italy, 17% in the
United Kingdom and 10% in Germany and France.
This habit can be explained also in cultural terms, as in Italy it is common to
have one or two glasses of wines with meals, whereas in other countries they
prefer concentrating the consumption of alcoholic beverages in a single day, in
particular in Germany, a habit preferred by the 64% of people. The research
also brings out Italians pay attention to quality: 70% believe in the rule of
drink less but of good quality, a figure reaching 83% in subjects from 25
to 34 years. One of the accusations flung at young people is the connection
between the consumption of alcohol and the sensation of being adult. 59% of
Italians believe they do not consume alcohol for this reason, and also 40% of
French people agree on this, as well as 38% of German and 25% of the people
living in the United Kingdom. Only the 8% of Italians admit to consume
alcoholic beverages in order to be more self-confident, a figure raising to
17% in Germany and 25% in the United Kingdom. It would be good also European
young people to follow the example of Italians, an example which is also the
undeniable result of culture, the Italian culture of wine, being more and more
associated to moderation and quality. Well done, guys!
|