“We’re all hammered in Chile”: Drinking norms and tactics from adolescents’ perspectives

BACKGROUND: Understanding adolescents' perspectives on how alcohol policies and the normalization of alcohol consumption affect their behavior remains crucial. This study explores how microsocial systems (peers and family) shape adolescent alcohol consumption within the macrosocial systems (social norms and public policies) in which they are embedded. METHODS: We conducted 25 group interviews with 197 students in Years 8 to 10 (55.3% girls) enrolled in nine schools. Interviews were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. RESULTS: Despite recent restrictions on alcohol sales to adolescents, participants perceived alcohol as still easily accessible. Young people employ various strategies to obtain it, and small neighborhood retailers often fail to comply with regulations despite being aware of them. These macrosocial dynamics also contribute to the normalization of alcohol use during celebrations and in private settings such as the home. In addition, social norms help explain parental attitudes that legitimize adolescents' early experiences with alcohol in the home, while these attitudes-together with parents' own drinking behaviors-further reinforce the normalization of alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention strategies for adolescents should address the normalization of alcohol use in Chile and its embedding in social contexts, such as families. The enforcement of alcohol policies must be assessed, considering adolescents' reports of access to alcohol.