Patrones de consumo de alcohol en adolescentes ecuatorianos: ¿Estilo mediterráneo o anglosajón?

Introduction: A practice of generalized alcohol consumption in adolescents is known, although not the most representative pattern or type of consumption. Objective: Identify by gender, the levels and patterns of alcohol use in a sample of Ecuadorian adolescents. Methodology: Descriptive, categorical and comparative study with the AUDIT. Sample: 1260 adolescents (55.3% men), 12 to 19 years old (M = 15; SD = 1.56), students from 11 centers (86% public), in the General Basic Education cycle (30.2%) and High School (69.8%) of Cotopaxi and Tungurahua provinces. Results: Alcohol use is widespread in the sample, abstinence is 43% and 49% in men and women, the type of alcohol use does not present significant risks and the alcohol use pattern is low and moderate. The pattern of alcohol use is mostly moderate; the intense style prevalence is 15.7% and 22.2% in men and women. The gender is invariant. Conclusions: There is a widespread practice of moderate alcohol use and a pattern of Mediterranean-type alcohol use.