Fiona Measham, a criminologist at Lancaster University in England and co-editor of the book "Swimming with Crocodiles: The Culture of Extreme Drinking," conducted focus groups on drinking in Brazil, China, Italy, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa and Britain.

Measham said young people's views on alcohol and drunkenness were influenced more by culture than by factors such as age and sex.

The research on young people's drinking shows 49 percent of Swedish 17-year-olds report having been drunk, compared with around 10 percent of Italian, French and Greek youth.

"We need to work to change this culture of extreme drinking, we need to look at cultures in countries like Italy and Spain where moderate drinking is an ordinary, everyday part of family life."

Other striking similarities about drinking among young people in different parts of the world include: Alcohol consumption was primarily associated with enjoyment and socializing, drinking mostly took place at parties or bars and there is awareness of drinking is a means of self-medication.