Objective:

to recognize the scenarios of alcohol consumption as a collective phenomenon, and the interrelationships that occur in these spaces.

Methodology:

qualitative with an ethnographic approach, carried out in two stages: cartography and mapping of alcohol consumption study sites and non-participant observation, where young health sciences university students participated. A content analysis was performed in ATLAS.Ti.

Results:

Eight categories emerged: 1) Characteristics of the place of consumption, 2) Youth motivations to drink, 3) Autonomy and self-control over consumption, 4) Characteristics of consumption, 5) Effects of alcohol consumption on the body, 6) Knowledge of risk associated with consumption, 7) Differences based on the gender-sex division, 8) Pandemic ruptures.

Conclusion:

Consumption sites use lighting, furniture, screens, shows, a variety of alcoholic beverages, different forms of payment, and security strategies to attract young people. Observers report that young people recognize as reasons for consuming alcohol: breakups, loss of inhibition, being accepted by the group, enjoying with their peers, sporting events, celebrations, releasing tension caused by academic, work, family and sentimental responsibilities. They use self-control and self-knowledge as mechanisms to face social pressure in consumption scenarios, which allow them to establish care guidelines before, during and after consumption.