Background: A recent nationwide survey in Thailand estimated 40% of pre-adolescents have used alcohol; a substantially
higher proportion than the 25% reported by the WHO. Increased liquor consumption at a young age is the result of multiple factors.
Objective: To identify factors contributing to liquor consumption among middle school-aged students
Material and Method: This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted among willing students in Grades 7 to 9 in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The study was conducted between June and August, 2016. Stratified multi-stage random sampling by school size was used to enroll secondary schools. Participants were selected by random systematic sampling in proportion to school size. Data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire. The dependent variable was liquor consumption and the associated factors were analyzed by logistic regression.
Results: 720 students (41.6% males) were in the study. Average age (+SD) was 13.6+0.6 years. 316 students (43.9%) had drunk or currently drink. The earliest age for starting drinking was 10-years-old. Only 6 significant factors associated
with liquor consumption remained in the final stepwise model. The top 2 independent risk factors were no close friends and
weak family relationships (adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) 14.94 (2.27, 98.28) and 8.18 (2.99, 22.33), respectively).
Conclusion: The 6 independent predictors for liquor consumption among students in grades 7 to 9 were tobacco use, no after class activities with friends, no close friends, inadequate knowledge regarding the dangers of drinking, poor attitude regarding drinking behaviors, and weak family relationships.

Keywords: Liquor consumption, Drinking behaviors, Predictors, Middle school-age students, Attitude