Global Journal of Human Social Science, C: Sociology and Culture, Volume 23 Issue 2

© 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue II Version I 43 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 C Self-reporting of youth delinquency in the Balkans and beyond: Results of the ISRD3 International Self-Reporting Study of Delinquency in the Context of Violence, Victimization, and Substance Abuse in Comparative Aspects V. A nalise • The highest prevalence of alcohol use is in Serbia and Switzerland. It is also relatively high in Ukraine, Macedonia and Armenia. This percentage is the lowest in Kosovo. Each third respondent from the Ex-Yugoslavian country cluster has already tried alcohol. • We suggest that such differences can be explained by cultural and traditional issues of a country, spending leisure time by respondents. The first argument is described more detailed in the following table with the statistics of wine consumption, provided by the Wine Institute, California. The distribution of wine and alcohol consumption per capita in different countries is corresponding mostly to our results and presented in the following figure. • In accordance with ISRD-3 results, students from Armenia and Serbia reported the highest prevalence of drinking wine in comparison with other types of alcohol. All other countries and their groups used to consume beers more often than wine and spirits. • Students from Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina reported about binge drinking the least frequent. This percentage is the highest among students from Serbia and Armenia. Juveniles from the selected Ex- Yugoslavian country cluster consume five or more drinks on one occasion almost twice less frequent than their peers from Switzerland regardless the parents’ origin. • Our respondents in all countries are more likely to consume alcohol when they go out. This association is similar in Serbia, but the distinguishing feature is having more than half of respondents have already tried alcohol if they never go out. • In all countries and their groups, students who spend most of their time with their families, are less likely to consume alcohol. • Students, who have five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion, report about violent offences perpetration 3-12 times more often than their peers who do not do binge drinking. The influence of binge drinking is stronger on the perpetration of violent offences than on the perpetration of property offences. VI. D iscussion Preliminary analyzes reflect strong findings regarding national, regional and international delinquency differences and similarities in levels of offending and victimization experiences among 14-18 year olds. Due to the high degree of methodological standardization of ISRD-3, and the large number of countries represented, ISRD-3 data promise to make an important contribution - both substantively and methodologically - to international comparative knowledge, especially the countries we have case studies Macedonia, BiH, Serbia, Armenia, Ukraine and Switzerland. • Cannabis use is strongly associated with an active night life. Students, who go out more often than three times per week, are more likely to consume this substance. It is not significant for Serbia and Macedonia. • The same as with alcohol, students who spend most of their time with family are less likely to consume cannabis. • Respondents, who go out more than three times per week, are three-five times more likely to report about binge drinking than those who never go out in all taken countries and their groups. This association is highly significant. • Respondents, who consume cannabis, are more likely to commit an offence. • Cannabis use has a stronger influence on violent offences than on minor offences perpetration.