First Drinking Experiences during Adolescence in South Korea: A Qualitative Study Focusing on the Internal and External Factors

Seong-Jun Maeng, Dong-Jun Lee and Jun-Hyeok Kang
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Seong-Jun Maeng: Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 03063, Korea
Dong-Jun Lee: Department of Social Welfare, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 03063, Korea
Jun-Hyeok Kang: Department of Addiction Rehabilitation and Social Welfare, Eulji University, Seongnam 13135, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: This study explored the internal and external factors affecting the first drinking experience during Korean adolescence. To achieve this, we collected 34 cases revealing specific drinking experiences during adolescence in Alcoholic Anonymous (A.A.), Korea. The collected data were analyzed using a qualitative case study method, and the analysis focused on the internal and external factors influencing drinking in adolescence. As per the results, internal factors that influenced drinking in adolescence were “curiosity” and “elevated mood and stress relief”, and external factors were “family”, “friends”, “older friends at school”, “neighbors”, “Korean tradition of alcohol making”, “workplaces that encourage alcohol consumption”, and “a generous drinking culture.” Based on these findings, we suggested several practical alternatives, such as a stringent alcohol punishment system, government-led campaigns to overcome the generous alcohol culture, monitoring the drinking status of working and intern youths, and using local crime prevention guards to curb youth drinking. In future research, it is necessary to quantitatively verify the results of this study to develop theories related to adolescent drinking behavior.

Keywords: alcohol; first drinking experience; South Koreans adolescents; case study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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