FFECTS OF MODERATE ALCOHOL INTAKE ON PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN ABIDJAN (CÖTE D'IVOIRE)

<ns3:p>The negative impact of excessive alcohol consumption on cognitive performance and social behavior is well documented. However, findings regarding moderate alcohol intake remain inconsistent, varying by methodology and author perspective. In Africa -particularly in Côte d'Ivoire - research on this topic is scarce, despite widespread alcohol use among young people. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of moderate alcohol intake on the problem-solving abilities of school-age children.Fifty-six male students aged 18 to 33 participated in the study. Each completed the Tower of Hanoi test after reaching a specific blood alcohol concentration (BAC): 0.0 (control), 0.2, 0.5, or 0.8 g/l.Participants in group E1 (BAC 0.2 g/l) performed best across all four trials. In contrast, group T (BAC 0.0 g/l) and group E2 (BAC 0.5 g/l) showed the weakest performance in tests 2 and 3, respectively. At BAC levels below 0.5 g/l, occasional drinkers (CO) outperformed regular drinkers (CR). However, at BAC levels of 0.5 g/l and above, regular drinkers showed better performance than occasional drinkers.Low-dose alcohol intake may enhance problem-solving ability by improving planning. Furthermore, regular drinkers appear more resilient to the acute cognitive effects of higher BAC levels (≥0.5 g/l).</ns3:p>