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   Share this article     Summary of Editorial column Wine Tasting 
  Editorial Issue 75, June 2009   
Young Italians: Most Virtuous of EuropeYoung Italians: Most Virtuous of Europe  Contents 
Issue 74, May 2009 Follow DiWineTaste on Follow DiWineTaste on TwitterIssue 76, Summer 2009

Young Italians: Most Virtuous of Europe


 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!

 




   Share this article     Summary of Editorial column Wine Tasting 
  Editorial Issue 75, June 2009   
Young Italians: Most Virtuous of EuropeYoung Italians: Most Virtuous of Europe  Contents 
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