ABSTRACT
In a society in which the use of alcohol has been symbolically associated with an adult behavior pattern and in which the use of alcohol is legally regulated, surveys have noted that few adolescents wait until they reach “drinking age” to sample alcohol. School board permission was obtained to conduct an alcohol behavior survey within nine schools of a large city in Southern Ontario. Individuals who drink alcohol on a regular basis and have low levels of self-esteem, may have been “weeded out” due to peer pressure, to drink excessively and therefore render them in the potential problem drinking category. The regular drinker may be thought of as being insulated from potential problem drinking by possessing a high level of self-esteem. Educators, therefore, should consider both variables, self-esteem and drinking behavior when devising and applying alcohol education programs. However, equally important, is aiding those persons who abuse alcohol to reassess their behavior and take steps toward prevention of future abuse.
