Communication without frontieres: "We are in the middle of the communication era. The necessity of using some international vehicled languages for providing the relationship between people and between civilizations has appeared. But communication is a complex process, and nowadays it has as many faces as the people who use it. Fortunately, things are changing very rapidly and with the help of the technologies the basis of communication grows larger every day. The Internet for example, offers us the access to information from all around the world, giving us the possibility of getting in touch with persons that are in a remote corner of the world. This was one of the starting point for the idea of our project, of our newspaper, which we propose to you throughout the COM-PAR project. The interregional collaboration of youngsters in neighboring countries can-and we hope it will be so-be the interpersonal links and bonds between profound involvement in the social life of their community that they belong to or come to represent. No doubt our wish is that this project will not be limited only to the actions mentioned in the newspaper, to the exchange of ideas this journal. It must be the support and the starting point for new projects and collaborations, which will "demolish" the interstitial borders and getting us closer and closer spiritually speaking. " - Lia Crisan

     

      An event to be remembered, NGO FAIR 2nd Edition: "The NGO Fair, organized by Euro regional Center for Democracy, came to it's second edition. The event took place at Youth's House in Timisoara and it was addressed to the representant of civil society from South Eastern Europe. The Fair's objective is to facilitate the establishment of new contacts between NGOs, to promote the cooperation in this area. This is why the Euro regional Center for Democracy made an agenda with the participants, in order to allow every NGO to have access to all kind of information about the other NGO's activities. The participation of as many as possible NGOs at the Fair was wanted. That's why the program contained events like contests and social events. To the invitation of Euro regional Center for Democracy, here came NGOs from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and of course, Romania. The Fair had 10 sections: Media, Art and Culture, Gender, Social Services, Economic Development, Resource Center (information, training), Education, Human Rights and Minorities, Environment and Youth. Every organization had a stand that was decorated in it's own stile in order to represent its activities. Most of the stands were nice decorated, the participants showed they had humor and inspiration. Every NGO brought materials about it's activity and gave brochures to the visitors. The members of the organizations were very kind and they made short presentations to the visitors interested in knowing more details. The attractions of the Fair remained the contests for the best project and the best stand. There were elections to determine the winners. Every winner got as a prize a scanner. G.L.A.S. was the organization that won two prizes. COM-PAR project (Communication and Civic Participation in South-Eastern Europe) was elected, during the contest, as the best project. G.L.A.S.'s stand was elected by a big number of visitors and received the third price at the contest for the best stand. An interesting idea was that of Eugenia Banciu and Monica Ivan to have " sandwich-men" to promote the image of the organization. The effort of the students of the High-school of Arts who draw and carried the posters with them at the fair is to be mentioned. At the end of the Fair, G.L.A.S. had the appreciation of the visitors and the other participants; a very well known project and two scanners but one has been donated to an organization from Serbia with whom G.L.A.S. is in partnership. The Fair was a successful event considering the great number of visitors who came in that period at Youth's House. The Fair showed that people are interested in civil society's activities; there were many people that came with the purpose of informing themselves. So it seems that the interest of the common people for this important area of social life is continuously growing, and the civil society hold an important role in the social field." - Lavinia CIOARIC

      Visual Communications: "The theme of the exhibition of photos and lamps was "Textured structures". It took place on the 6-th of June 2001 at the Art Library. This was the moment when G.L.A.S. presented the first issue of its magazine. The art works have been made by the tenth and eleventh grades of the visual communication groups, supervised by prof. Eugenia Banciu. The majority of these pupils, and of course Eugenia, are members of the G.L.A.S. Association, so everything was happening in a big fa-mily. The event took place shortly after our collaborators from Yugoslavia had been in Timișoara and in Ciacova as well. Our magazine is filled with jolly and lively atmosphere which is created by this collaboration. In this publication another art exhibition is mentioned, which occurred through the COM-PAR project, and took place at the "Acces" Gallery of the Tibiscus University. Here, the message of social ethics is transmitted by teenagers from Timisoara and Yugoslavia. Perhaps, this kind of happenings will also take place in the future. Due to this, I'm sure I will remain a member of this association. " - Carmen Novac

     

      We had a voice at Ciacova: "Hello, people! Have you ever heard of Ciacova? Yeah, well we hadn't heard of it either, before we had a voice (GLAS= voice) there! "Really?? When?!" In June 2001! But don't get restless! I'll tell you all about it... Ciacova... hmmm, is that a village or what? The thing is it hosted a really cool event. It was a new experience for us all, the first one of this type, and it was great to get to know each other, the young people in the village, and to communicate with them. The welcome given by the mayor of Ciacova was great. He actually made some things clear for us, and told us that Ciacova has been around for the last 600 years, and I might add that it looks pretty good for its age.It's a great place, where even the serbians felt better than at home, especially after visiting the Dositei Obradovici Memorial Home. Many ingenious ideas made it hard for us to get bored. Like the game with little breads, in which each of us discovered the hidden talents we had: painting and modelling. The credits for this go to Eugenia Banciu- artist. But I think that what impressed us most of all was the visit to the local orphanage, built by the Caritas Association. The facilities here are great, but the best thing about it is that it provides love and care for the kids less fortunate than us. On the other hand, there were many funny things, that seemed to be right out of Caragiale's plays. For example, while the mayor of Ciacova was giving his speech, we could clearly hear a loud voice, which came from his right and was generously adressing him swears. And all this, while the mayor was telling us how beautiful and interesting the village is. He convinced us, while the poor Serbians must have thought it was all part of the show. Another cool thing was when the whole group was heading towards the bakery. That's when I, Cristi, stopped to take the picture of what I found to be a very interesting wall. Shrivelled from the passing of time, rusty fence,... what can I say? That wall was photography heaven. But when I looked back, I saw that everyone had stopped, staring at me, and whispering. Great artists are never understood by their contemporaries... There are still many to be said... the important thing is that we got "connected" with the Serbians. I mean we sat around a round table, shared ideas, then we played a little football, and exchanged e-mail addresses. And this was a very good thing for the future and the present, concernig relationships past boarders. In conclusion, we have frinds and partners abroad...If you're not bored yet, I rule. " - Cristian PATEAN & Adrian POPESCU

      Flying Pigeon: "Today is June 10, 2001. It's a worm and stuffy day which reminded me of one of the similar days two years ago - June of 1999. I'm looking at the piece of sky through my window-pane. I'm looking at the pigeons while they are circling over the house, always returning to the same roof. They are flying while it's sunny and rainy, tireless just like planes which are spreading fear but giving us hope as well. I'm looking at my piece of sky tied with wire. I wonder why. Why is it carefree playing in the sand and flying a kite denied for the neighbourhood kids? Why should they make difference between sounds of sirens for the beginning and the end of air-raid. Have the kids from Italy, Pakistan and Brazil ever feel the same bitterness of this dishonest, long and unknown play of the adults. Are they realising that there are plenty of more painless and compassionable plays of this, called WAR. A pigeon landed on my window. Maybe he lost his flock. Maybe he is just lonely and frightened like I am while the sounds of armed planes are hurting my sky. I'm watching the bird and I wonder: will it ever fly again in freedom? Today is June 10, 2001. My sky is bright, clear and peaceful and pigeons are flying again... This story is dedicated to the last day of bombing Yugoslavia - June 10, 1999." - Djordje NEDELKOVIC

      Probitas 2001: "This summer we had the opportunity to participate in the Students' Bimonthly Operational Radio Programme for Technical and Applicative Training, which took place in Sebis, Arad County, Romania. The Project PROBITAS 2001 is an initiative of the West Foundation for Regional and Euroregional Journalism, Timisoara, promoted by Radio West Company and West FM Network. The Project PROBITAS 2001 1st Edition - Sebis, Arad County, June - September 2001, was made possible with the financial support provided by the USAID Romania, Office of Democracy and Governance, Bureau for E&E, U. S. Agency for International Development, and with the support provided by the Euroregional Centre for Democracy - SON Member Organisation - Programme "South East Youth Initiative Fund". The programme was aimed at training young journalists of Romania and Serbia who published a newspaper and edited a radio programme, which was to be broadcasted on the local station Radio West Sebis. However, we believe that this was not the main feature of PROBITAS. PROBITAS was a happy event in the life of the participants. Here they had the opportunity to meet outstanding personalities of the media who told the future journalists what journalism meant from their point of view. The trainers, Marian Odangiu, Violeta Ficard and Ovidiu Vărădeanu who, as true media professionals, had a lot to teach us. PROBITAS, which is in fact a summer school, is totally different from a traditional school being a type of education based on actual communication between the participants and trainers, and lacking any kind of obsolete and rigid schedule. Besides the information characteristic of a summer school the participants also got to know facts about the social, cultural and political life of Serbia. Thus, we can say that the project has been extremely successful, and the initiative of the West Foundation, i.e. to actively get involved in establishing effective links between Romania and Serbia, is to be appreciated." - Alina Dina

      Boring Young: "Young people in Yugoslavia, especially in small places, are used to live with the fact that nothing is going on in the night and cultural life... Situation is a bit better in cities. Not because people are more active, but because of bigger offer in nightlife. These reasons are the same if you live in a small village or the capital. If some party doesn't happen, the situation is unbearable. So, we are obligated to cruise from one club to the other searching for good time. Actually our environment is pushing us to mission impossible… Anyhow, there is an option to stop in the first club you step in and start to listen to démodé music… Unfortunately, 90 % of cafes belong to this group. The rest are unprofitable places which are closed very soon no matter how hard they try. The story about the low cultural level of most of the youngsters is totally boring so I'm not going to spend my time writing about it. Another negative thing is that there are no retro, lesbian, gay clubs... Of course, there is a question of courage for people to visit places like these... The changes from about one year ago happened like an explosion and all they left in the minds of youth is dust... Much more than one year must pass so that at least a drop of modern thoughts be implanted to puritans public. These changes are less visible among youth then among elite people who lived on postulates of things before them. No matter of all what happened to us youngsters, we havn't lost hope, so I am looking forward to see more visible changes and for better, too." - Radoslav Vever - SKY

      International night in Krakow: "Krakow was again this year the host of a Bridges for Education international English camp. The purpose of this American non- governmental organization is to surpass all kinds of barriers, cultural or political, using English as a "bridge". There were no less that 100 Polish students in the camp, 20 Russians, 10 Romanians, and one representative from Hungary, Slovakia, and Ukraine. But to be sure that everyone will get something more from the other cultures present than the "bad words" or the hikes on the neck (or any other place ) the teachers developed an evil scheme. They thought it might be nice if the students made up a sort of "international night", in which they were going to present their country. Everything began the second week of the camp, and we had the honor to initiate the "festivities". We didn't have a flag or a map, so we improvised. We drew a big map that we colored so that it would resemble our national flag( 2- in-1, like a shampoo). But of course that didn't really work out, since the red was pink, and the yellow was orange. So, there we were, on the stage. One of us solemnly announced the national anthem of Romania, but I had to ruin this beautiful moment, and because I was nervous and the whole song lasted for about 15 minutes. So I cut it short, after 2 stanzas. Then, we said some general facts about our country , about the cities that we were from, and the capital, naturally. We also sang the only folk song we knew. We also intended to have a poetical moment, but the guy who was supposed to recite had a stage- fright attack and couldn't remember the words. And now comes the fun part. We decided to teach our audience some of our beautiful and musical Romanian. To do that, we wrote some "key words" on big sheets of paper, which luckily made up a little dialogue, and also the typical Romanian sounds, the ones that we had seen that the Poles or Americans couldn't really pronounce. I volunteered to be the teacher, and I tried to make them say some basic words like "țuică", "mulțumesc" and some greetings. In the end, I guess you are wondering why I wrote about this subject. My purpose was to raise a question within yourselves. I wanted you to think how you'd present your country to some people who don't know very many things about it, except for the clichés and for the negative aspects that you probably also know very well. And to emphasize my recommendation, I'd like to present you with a very popular quote: "Just think about it." - Alexandra BĂLAN

      The politics behind media: "Banat is a multiethnical and multicultural region with rich medieval legacy. Kikinda and Senta are towns that have kept their freedom before Milosevic completely established his regime in 1988. Those two towns were also among the first free towns in the elections 1996. That year the local administration was in the hands of the coalition "Zajedno" in Kikinda and the Union of Hungarians in Vojvodina (SVM), in Senta. The leading coalition was disrupting the influence and the work of these two forces by provoking local people's fears from ethnical conflicts and conflicts between natives and immigrants. Those fears were justified. All former crises in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo were created by intensive propaganda campaign of government's media. Soon, this became a harsh reality. Public relations and propaganda campaign by means of government's administration and such media created public opinion were based on western countries hostility toward our nation. Many years of economic sanctions, international isolation and bombing were of great help for them. All this enabled the development of democratic forces and institutions of cooperative relationships with neighboring regions and the attempt of implementation of the "South - Eastern Europe Stability Pact" and conclusions of Trilateral commission. Being aware of free media influence, the government tried to eliminate it by different means. Democratic forces were most damaged by: - prohibition of announcing firms with referential treatments (which were active and solvent) in free media such as VK Radio and Radio Senta - (mis)use of the awful public informing law (financial fining caused crises of funds which were already poor, in order to destroy these media economically) - radio broadcast laws manipulation and other regulations in this field which enable equipment depriving. This repression was felt by all the three radio stations which are a part of Info-jet . The final score is - 6 deprived radio-transmitters in a year! According to our plan, Info-jet media should offer accurate and permanent public insight into governmental and regional administrative organs, high officials and institutions from political, legal, economical, police and military sphere. We think this is the way to exert pressure on government and to reduce frequent breaking of the Law and the Constitution. Today, we can freely say we had succeeded." - Nemanija GRBIC

      The Internet: Friend or Enemy?: "Nowadays , the Internet is more and more used. Why? I can give you the answer! Firstly, the main purpose for connecting to the Internet is the communication. It was created exactly due to the necessity of mankind to communicate. The lack of exchanging ideas pushed technology forward , until it reached the highest level(concerning speed and amount of information) of the internet we know today. Like "Nokia": connecting people "it is easier and faster than letters or traditional mailing. By "easier" I mean that one sits comfortably in front of his PC, writes his letter and sends it by pushing a single button. It is as simple as that. He doesn't need to go to the nearest post office Secondly, the internet became world-wide known , spread and finally used. Now, people all over the world have access to this innovative way of intercommunicating. Thirdly, it is very dynamic and commercial. One can find and choose from a wide range of products. It is a fast and easy way of purchasing goods: no more than one click of a button is needed in order to achieve the wanted item. Furthermore , very many firms are using the internet in order to get world-wide known and contacted. On the other hand , it has its bad aspect: Mirc. The majority of Mirc users are having fun by showing an unreal image of themselves. Very rarely one presents his true self, identity. These virtual conversations may sometimes lead even to stupid marriages(and finally divorces). One can even get "addicted" to the internet by using it at his work place for several hours a day. Considering all the above , the internet with its good and bad sides, always linked people providing a permanent relation between them. I leave it up to you to decide how much of a friend the internet is." - Miruna TOMIN

     

      TV - The easiest way to manipulation: "How many of you have ever thought that just by looking into that big black box-called TV, with a machine with many colored buttons-called remote control-in your hand, you are being manipulated by the people behind the screen? It is true that it is an easy method to get information because the quality of visual information (images) is faster absorbed by the person watching, as compared to the effort sustained while reading a book. But the quality of useful information is much smaller and the whole process takes hours of vegetating in an arm-chair with a beer can in your hand and your eyes peeled-thus the expression "couch potato". It is not only this manipulation that bothers some people, but also the fact that after years spent in front of the TV screen they have gained tens of kilos. The truth is that no one actually died because of watching TV, but there were many victims of the violence seen in movies. This happens because parents replace baby-sitters with television. They abandon their children, allowing them to spend hours and hours watching cartoon channels. The worst things you can see are the money winning shows, the shopping channels and, worst of all, the soap operas. Those three things limit your brain activity and turn the population into vegetables, and make us consumers of low quality information. There is a good side to TV, too. The fact that you can be informed with the latest news worldwide. But you can't be sure of the accuracy and truth of that information. Let's not forget that this is the easiest way of mass-manipulation. For example, someone can come up to a television station and announce a big earthquake is coming up, thus creating a state of panic nationwide, even if he doesn't have many scientific arguments of proof. People take anything on TV for granted, and believe it no matter what. The government uses this big black box to cover up its illegal operations or to calm down the population or the press, in order for it to be easier for them to carry on. For example, how come all our politicians live such prosperous lives, and have big houses and fancy cars? Do you really think they were able to buy all that with the money earned in Parliament? I think it was the trip... And since we are talking about television, we must not forget one of it's most controversial issue: commercials. They are actually brainwashing you! After seeing a commercial to a certain product over and over again, you actually start wondering why you haven't tried it yet. Everyone says how good it is, and how it works miracles, that you believe it. After many debates, I decided that the best thing about television is the weather report. You know from the start that it isn't very accurate, after all, it is all about predicting, so you won't get too upset when it's raining when you are at the beach." - Liviu VARZARU s

      Affirmation of Children Rights: "As an independent media that has directed its professional and social involvement to support democratic social changes and emit all information by which the public is warned against breaking the legality, human rights and transgression of the good of common interests, we noticed that among the all endangered, the most endangered are children. The "Affirmation of children rights" project was intended for them. Social, political and military processes and events, by means of drastic pressure, extort change of views, behavior and emotional reaction of adults, caused crises of the value structures and socially desirable behavior, bringing into question the ideal of growing-up. The number of children, who are put into the position of primary and secondary endangered category, is increased every day. We are of the opinion that the age between 11 and 15 years is the most sensitive in that aspect. That is the age when children clearly experience, observe much and make basic decisions and attitudes, without necessary maturity and knowledge for that. We think that the traditional model of upbringing additionally burdens this difficult situation because the areas of emotions, experience of emotions and expression of emotions are still a very strong taboo. Therefore, the project task was a support to emotional growth of personality and help in understanding confused and often violent surrounding of adults, particularly for those children whose parents were under any kind of repression of the government. The effects we expect to get from this project primarily refer to the decrease of traumatic consequences of any kind of violence and existential fear, intensively present in experience of the generations born between 1985 and 1989. With the "Affirmation of children rights" project we offer to the participants a more human model of social communications that would push aside solving of problems by violence and recognize rights of any personality. We also believe that the support in terms of adequate experience and communication of emotional matters will enable these children to be happier, more content and to experience the joy of living more intensively." - Marina ILICIN

      Teenage rebellion: "It's a funny thing how one of the most dreaded educational methods used by grown-ups with their children actually works. I am not going to write a page of my biography now (you will be able to find that in the libraries starting next January), but I am going to tell you a story about my music teacher. She is a very interesting person, and I hope you realize that coming from a student, what might seem a compliment is actually a nicer way to say "everybody hates her". So I can't say I liked her more than my friends did at the time. But I was always one of those people who sit quietly in their desk and do what they are told. So, this teacher, in her pursues to educate us, thought the opera might do the trick. But she didn't try to slowly make us enjoy it, or at least look forward to it. Nope. She didn't. She came in and said "Tomorrow 'Carmen' is playing at the opera. You're all going. Who's collecting the money for the tickets?" and the next day, the weak and the feeble, the ones without a voice, including me, went to the opera. Now I feel the need to make a little comment. I know most of the people reading this are going to make a funny face, as if they are sucking on a slice of lemon, and say "Eeeow… opera.." or whatever.. but it doesn't have to be opera, it's the same with the theatre, if you prefer. Among all the people who go to the opera, or the theatre, whichever, there is a rather high percentage that is forced to. Black-mailed by their teachers, tortured to buy tickets, these kids end up there. And it's not one of the friendliest places to be in, I can say. It is a big, formal, rigid building, and the people working there fit perfectly in the atmosphere. And not everybody is as open as myself when it comes to new experiences (and I was referring to myself, when I said in the beginning that one of the most hated educational methods actually work). So, instead of trying to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show, they are expressing their anger towards the authority that I mentioned above by talking and laughing loudly, going in and out of the room, in spite of the efforts of the "opera ladies". Every time the same thing happens. And this doesn't even seem to serve an educational purpose anymore. It's just a tradition. You almost expect a group of twenty people (you can feel them carrying their chains to the floor) to come it and spoil your evening. And you wonder for which of the shows you paid the ticket? For the one on stage, or off... " - Alexandra BĂLAN

      Local Authority and NGO's: "Interview with Mr. Gheorghe Crisan, advisor of the prefect of the Timis county.
RP. Mr. Crisan, considering your status now, are you collaborating with any NGO's?
C.Gh. At the moment, as counselor, I supervise the connection between the Prefecture of Timiș County, NGOs and other branches of the Government involved in similar activities. But I also worked for the press dedicated to young people and business areas, and I am also a member of NGOs. And I am an university lecturer, so I am familiar with the problems youngsters have.
RP. Considering that the only financial resources NGOs have, come from their own projects, and sponsorships from business environments, what do you think the solution might be for NGOS to continue their activity at the standards they have?
C.Gh. I think that the best solution would be to have a public administration with the support of the civil society, integrate these NGOs in the elaboration of the wide interest programmes plans. This way, in the contingency of financing, the money will be spent with greater efficiency. On these terms, the County Councils and the City Halls, administrating the money from the budget, could allocate important funds to the projects they have arranged in advance with the NGOs.
RP. Romania has been very involved lately in the European integration. Do you think that NGOs for youngsters play an important part in this process?
C.Gh. Of course. Through the exchanges of information with youth from other countries, we have to "import" the good aspects and "export"- through the people that represent us in different projects abroad- a positive image. From this point of view, I especially appreciate the activity of the Euro regional Center for Democracy, since it supports the activity of youth organizations and finances the projects that are bound to solve the most important social problems of the youngsters.
RP. What can you tell us about the activities promoted by the Prefecture in collaboration with the NGOs?
C.Gh. We try to support by all means the activities of the NGOs in our county. We recently elaborated our own strategy considering projects in this domain and we presented it to the County NGO Forum. We are also partners of some NGOs in the projects concerning associations in the rural environment and the improvement of information and communication, including the access to various financing programmes offered by the EU, like the SAPARD. We are still open to any proposals of associating, regardless of the issue taken into consideration. More than this, we support any project supporting youth activity. " - Lavinia CIOARIC and Cristina BERNEANU

      The Balkans - Out Home: "Without love for your nation there is no solid ground on which would man like unique being stand. One of the most important things for successful understanding of some people's customs and behavior is history of that people. History shows us what kinds of mistakes were made in the past and how to avoid making same or similar mistakes in present. Also by allowing us to see how individuals and entire population act in some situation and generally how are they solving their problems, we can learn to better understand other cultures and respect them. Balkan region is one of the strangest parts of Europe. Because of its position and its strategically value, this piece of land was goal for conquest since ancient times. Despite all these, people that lived here for centuries were trying to somehow say what they are and not lose their culture and identity. The origin of Balkans nations is quite different and they all have their own special seal that was inherited during past times.(Because of great transition of peoples, ideas and cultures that took part here, each country has found a way to accept some foreign views and to maintain its own.) But one thing remains a fact: regardless to where the motherland of people that live here is, did they came from the steps of Central Asia, Central Europe or they were already here, all of them have one important thing in common, and that is the fight that was lasting for centuries and still lasts: the fight for full recognition of their achievements, their cultural level and their right to participate equally in European and world happenings, because they deserve it. " - Djordje NEDELKOVIC

      Drugs - Another Reality: "Consumption of drugs represents one of the challenges humanity has to confront with, the direct and indirect effects of them are presenting it as a worrying phenomenon. Indubitable, the category of people most vulnerable to drugs are the youngsters. For the grown-ups there are prophylactic factors that seem more efficient such as: age, multiple responsibilities and the ideological doctrines they have been brought up with. Unlike the grow-ups, the young generation is more open-minded, wanting to try out new things, new experiences, like taking risks. Moreover, the youngsters from ex-communist counties have been less "exposed" to the warning messages that emphasized the dangers that the consumption of drugs represent as they have in the western society. People are the target of an informational raid, in which the consumption of drugs is often presented as an alternative to coping with your life. Studies have been made trying to identify the factors that make one take drugs (or not) among teenagers, intern factors-personality, as well as external objective ones-the environment. What the conclusions have revealed:
a) The main reason- of resisting the temptation of taking drugs is the belief that drugs have a negative influence on health.
b) Adolescents have an uncompleted and blurry image of what drugs mean (due to insufficient information, fear of drugs-as they represent something not well known to them but dangerous).
c) The most important social factor responsible for taking up and continuing to take drugs is the company, the influence of the ones of the same age has on us.
      If you want to find out more about the motivation youngsters have in taking drugs, read the next number of COM-PAR journal." - Silvia BODZEI

        

      About ACOHOL: "ALCOHOL ... who can say that he/she has not, at least once, said "Cheers! One drink can do no harm!". The consumers can be classified in two groups:
- the first one: passive drinkers, people who are stronger than alcohol; the ones that occasionally consume and sometimes become victims of acute intoxication with alcohol, also known as "they get drunk";
- the second: people who drink frequently, weaker than alcohol; their problem is alcoholism.
      Evidently, one cannot become an alcoholic after one night of partying with your friends. Inquiries have been made among teen-agers (17) who consume alcoholic drinks and the results show that :