both aggregate national estimates and individuallevel survey data show that trends over time in overall alcohol consumption remained virtually stable over the past years however the same is not true for all population subgroups in particular higherrisk drinking behaviours were found to be on the increase in young adults especially women in several countries examined evidence from finland shows that the rise in drinking among adolescents can be explained with an increased alcohol availability and an increase in money available to young people for their leisure time activities including alcohol consumption eg finland as discussed by rahkonen and ahlstrom in addition alcohol products have become more affordable in many countries and this is notably true for younger consumers rabinovich et al