4 November 2015
Researchers: Dr Emma Louise Davies, Lecturer in Psychology
Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane, Oxford OX3 0BP
Key findings
- The Alcohol Smart Quiz, a digital intervention based on the Prototype Willingness Model of health behaviour, had many features that enhanced its acceptability to adolescents and teachers.
- Participants thought that some experimentation with alcohol was inevitable during adolescence and so schools based prevention programmes should focus on harm reduction.
- Drinking in moderation was viewed as an acceptable message for young adolescents, although ‘moderation’ could be challenging to define.
- Adolescents reported feeling pressure to drink to fit in but were also curious about how alcohol would affect them.
- This meant that, despite positive reactions to the idea of making plans in advance to avoid drunkenness and harms, some participants were sceptical about how this would work in real life social situations.
- Teachers were receptive of the content and format of the intervention, suggesting it would be feasible to deliver within a school setting.
