doi.org/10.52340/eab.2026.18.01.09.   

The article addresses one of the pressing global challenges of modern times – the consumption of alcoholic beverages among young people. Georgia is no exception to this trend, which underscores the undeniable relevance of the topic. The study aims to conduct a comprehensive economic and statistical analysis of alcohol consumption among students and its impact on their socio-economic status. To achieve this objective, the following tasks were undertaken:
Development of a detailed research questionnaire;
• Collection of data and establishment of the necessary information base;
• Organization of the collected data into separate blocks according to various statistical characteristics;
• Identification of factors influencing students’ alcohol consumption and assessment of their impact;
• Calculation of relevant quantitative and qualitative indicators;
• Comparative analysis of the calculated indicators and formulation of conclusions.
The research methodology employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches; however, statistical methods were predominantly applied. These included selective statistical observation, the use of relative and average values, the index method, as well as specific techniques of variation and correlation analysis. A quantitative database on the research topic was established through selective research. The collected information was subsequently cleaned, resulting in a dataset suitable for analysis. To ensure representativeness, the required sample size was determined to be 384 respondents. In practice, 452 completed questionnaires were received, of which 403 were fully completed and error-free, making them suitable for analysis.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) data for 2024, Georgia ranks 66th globally and 2nd in Europe in terms of per capita alcohol consumption over the past 15 years. On average, nearly 8 liters of alcohol are consumed per person annually in Georgia, with wine accounting for 50%, spirits for 33%, and beer for 17%.
The study revealed significant variation in alcohol consumption among students according to demographic, social, and economic characteristics. More than half of the respondents were female; however, males predominated in the 18-year-old group (59%). Notably, 18-year-olds represented the largest share of respondents overall, accounting for 32%. Patterns of regular and occasional alcohol consumption differed across all age groups. The highest rates of regular consumption were observed among respondents aged 25 (99%), 18 (35%), and 21 (29%). Importantly, students from all age groups reported having tried alcohol at least once, though with varying levels of intensity.
Socio-economic background also played a decisive role. Among the respondents, 23% came from low-income households, 52% from middle-income households, and 25% identified as high-income. Students from low- and middle-income families typically had 5–10 GEL available per day, while those from higher-income families reported 10–20 GEL or more. Housing conditions reflected these differences: most low-income families lived in shared housing with grandparents, whereas middle- and high-income students were more likely to reside in rented housing, with parents, or independently. Specifically, 7% lived in shared housing with other students, 37% in rented housing, and 31% alone. Interestingly, a majority of students from high-income households lived with their parents. A noteworthy gender distinction emerged: in cases of low family income, none of the female students reported alcohol consumption within the past month or year, whereas male students, despite similarly limited resources, continued to consume alcohol.
The majority of regular alcohol users – approximately 80% – live with their mother. Other living arrangements include 33% with grandparents, 40% alone, 33% in a rented apartment with their parents, 5% in a rented apartment with other students, and 20% with their parents. Paradoxically, the highest prevalence is observed among those living with their mother. However, within the past 30 days, the largest share of alcohol users (33%) was respondents living with their grandparents.
In terms of household income, 35% of students from high-income families (earning 3,000 GEL or more) are regular alcohol users. Among respondents from average-income households (1,500–3,000 GEL), 25% consume alcohol regularly, while only 12% of those from low-income families (up to 1,500 GEL) report regular use. Across all categories, higher household income is associated with increased alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, members of low-income households also demonstrated notable levels of alcohol use over the past year.
Interesting findings emerged when analyzing the education level of students’ parents. The study revealed that 28% of respondents whose fathers have higher education and 21% whose fathers have secondary education regularly consume alcohol. Similarly, 27% of respondents in the same category reported mothers with higher education, while 20% reported mothers with secondary education. Overall, students who regularly consume alcohol predominantly come from families where parents hold higher education degrees. A more detailed gender-based analysis showed that among male respondents who regularly consume alcohol, the education level of their parents is generally secondary – 36% for fathers and 41% for mothers. Additionally, 30–31% of these respondents reported mothers with higher education. In contrast, among female respondents, the proportion whose parents’ education level is below higher education ranges between 9–11%. Notably, for female students who have tried alcohol at least once, 82% reported that both parents have higher education, a figure significantly higher than that observed among those with parents holding only secondary education.
An analysis of students’ academic performance level (GPI) revealed that regular alcohol use is more prevalent among those with lower GPI scores, though the pattern varies by gender. For instance, 50% of respondents with a low GPI (0.5) reported regular alcohol use. Among female students, those with a GPI of 1 exhibited the highest rate of regular consumption, at 67%. Interestingly, the proportion of regular alcohol users among students with GPI scores of 1 and 3 is equal, at 43%, suggesting that both low- and high-performing students demonstrate a relatively high intensity of alcohol consumption. However, this trend differs among female respondents, as increases in GPI do not correspond to higher rates of alcohol use. Notably, among male students with the highest GPI (4), the rate of regular alcohol consumption is nearly zero, whereas among female students with the same GPI, 15% reported regular use.
An analysis of the reasons for alcohol consumption among students revealed noteworthy patterns. Half of the respondents (50%) were unable to identify a specific reason for their drinking. Meanwhile, 32% indicated that alcohol enhances their communication in social settings. Gender differences were evident: 33% of male students reported that alcohol helps them communicate more effectively, while 31% of female students stated that it makes them more sociable. Additionally, 21% of male respondents attributed their increased self-confidence to alcohol use. For female students, however, this factor was far less significant – only 6% believed alcohol made them more confident, and just 4% felt it made them more attractive.
The study also examined students’ attitudes toward giving up alcohol. Among those who had tried alcohol, 34% reported no intention of quitting. Only 2% expressed a willingness to stop drinking based on relatives’ advice, and 5% cited deteriorating health as a reason. Gender differences again emerged: 39% of male students and 30% of female students stated they do not intend to give up alcohol. Furthermore, 44% of males and 61% of females reported having no clear position on the matter.

Keywords: Student, alcohol consumption, relative indicators, average indicators, variation and correlation.

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 1. The article was prepared on the basis of the faculty grant project - “Economic and Statistical Study of Tobacco Product and Alcoholic Beverage Consumption among Students in Georgia.”