The aim of this study was to examine the associations of alcohol use with sociodemographic factors,
mental health and alcohol exposure among school-going adolescents in Cambodia. The analysis included
3,806 school children, mean age 15.7 years (SD=1.8), from Cambodia who participated in the “Global
School-based Student Health Survey” (GSHS) in 2013. The results indicate that overall, 10.0% of the
students reported current alcohol use, 10.8% lifetime drunkenness, and 2.8% problem drinking. In multivariate
logistic regression analysis, sociodemographic factors (older age and being male), mental health and
other variables (bullying victimization, OR (odds ratio) = 1.99; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [1.50, 2.65]
and OR = 2.15; 95% CI [1.58, 3.21], respectively; having attempted suicide, OR = 2.04; 95% CI [1.35,
3.08] and OR = 2.06; 95% CI [1.29, 3.28], respectively and illicit drug use, OR = 4.97; 95% CI [2.41,
10.24] OR = 5.05; 95% CI [2.14, 11.98], respectively) and alcohol exposure variables (peer influence on
drinking alcohol, OR = 6.68; 95% CI [4.75, 9.39] and OR = 7.83; 95% CI [5.73, 10.66], respectively
and daily or almost daily to alcohol advertising in the past 30 days OR = 1.61; 95% CI [1.03, 2.51] and
OR = 2.30; 95% CI [1.40, 3.77], respectively) were significantly positively associated with current alcohol
use and drunkenness. Moreover, older age, being male, bullying victimization, having close friends, suicide
attempt, drug use, father or male guardian drinks alcohol and peer influence were associated with problem
drinking. There is a need to implement public health interventions with a special focus on the determinants
of alcohol consumption, including exposure to alcohol advertising, in this age group.