Table 5.

Highlights from the Lebanon Global School-based Health Surveys (GSHS) and evidence-based implications for research and intervention

GSHS 2005/2011 main findings	Evidence-based implications for policy, research and intervention	Current state of relevant policies
87% of the lifetime drinkers had their first drink before age 14, a higher percentage (95%) among the youngest 7th graders	• Enforcing the minimum legal age law for alcohol drinking and purchasing • Restricting home availability of alcohol beverages • Encouraging parent-child communication about alcohol drinking at a young age and its related harms • Regulating all alcohol marketing, including sponsorships	• Decree number 340, issued in March 1943, and revised in 1993, imposes a penalty fine (6,000–20,000 L.L.; equivalent to 4-14 USD) on persons who put minors under 18 years of age, in a drunken state by offering them spirit drinks. Stipulations of the same decree (article 626-revised through law 239/1993), impose sanctions and fines (10,000–20,000 L.L equivalent to 6.5–13 USD) on owners and employees of bars/pubs or other similar places that are open to the public, in cases where they offer spirit drinks to drunk persons, or to minors under age of 18 years, or in cases where they put a person in a drunken state. • There is no law regarding the legal alcohol purchase age (y).
Percentage of current drinkers among 13–15 year olds increased by 40% between 2005 and 2011; a third reported having at least two drinks on the days they drank in the preceding month (in both years)		• There is no law regarding the regulation of all alcohol marketing, including sponsorship
Between 2005 and 2011, the levels of reported drunkenness among 13–15 year olds increased by 50%, more so in the females (122% in females vs. 22% in males)	• Increasing public messages targeting youth, parents and larger community, reinforcing knowledge of alcohol-related harms • Strengthening school-based education on alcohol and its related harms • Integrating sobriety check points to check for drunk-driving	• There are no community mobilization programs to increase public awareness of, and prevent alcohol problems • There is no law regarding the integration of sobriety check points
In 2011, 1 in 20 13–15 year old (13% of the lifetime drinkers) ever got into trouble with family, friends, missed school, or gotten into a fight as a result of alcohol drinking.	• Ensuring availability of confidential school-based youth counseling • Encouraging parent-child communication about alcohol drinking at a young age and its related harms • Ensuring the availability of counseling and treatment for young people with alcohol problems	• There is no law that imposes mandatory training of alcohol servers to prevent and manage aggression • There is no law that imposes mandatory treatment for repeat drinking drivers • There are no community mobilization programs to increase public awareness of, and prevent alcohol problems
Half of the 13–15 year old students reported obtaining alcohol from their family (in both years)	• Increasing parental awareness about the harmfulness of early onset alcohol drinking • Urging parents to restrict alcohol availability at home • Encouraging parent-child communication about alcohol drinking at a young age and its related harms	• There are no community mobilization programs to increase public awareness of, and prevent alcohol problems
One in four students aged 13–15 years old reported buying alcohol from a shop/shop or street vendor in 2011	• Regulating alcohol sale to minors • Reducing the density of alcohol outlets • Integrating public messages supporting enforcement of available policies	• Decree 12222 issued in 1963 prohibits young males and females who have not yet completed their 18 years of age from entering bars and clubs of all kinds during day and night time. • Decree number 340, issued in March 1943, and revised in 1993, imposes a penalty fine (6,000–20,000 L.L.; equivalent to 4-14 USD) on persons who put minors under 18 years of age, in a drunken state by offering them spirit drinks • There is no law regarding the restrictions on density of stores selling alcoholic beverages in a given locale.
Sixty percent of the middle school students in 2011 reported not having received any school-based education about alcohol or its associated harms	• Strengthening school-based education on alcohol and its related harms	• There are no community mobilization programs to increase public awareness of, and prevent alcohol problems
Males aged 13–15 years old report a more frequent and harmful alcohol use pattern, but data from both years point towards a narrowing in the gender gap over time	• Creating national evidence-based gender-specific interventions, paying close attention to incident female drinkers.	• There are no community mobilization programs to increase public awareness of, and prevent alcohol problems