THROUGH A COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICE IN BRITTANY, 14 MALE ADOLESCENTS, AGE 14- TO 18 YEARS, WHO HAD BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE A JUVENILE COURT FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS OR FOR DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, WERE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE WHETHER MASSIVE ALCOHOL INTAKE IS EPISODIC, A GROUP AND LEISURE ACTIVITY. AN INDEPTH STUDY OF FAMILY STRUCTURES AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILES OF THESE YOUTHS REVEALED THAT (1) THE FATHER WAS OVERSHADOWED BY THE MOTHER, WHO WAS OFTEN SEVERE AND DOMINEERING; AND (2) THE ADOLESCENTS WERE PASSIVE, INHIBITED, NERVOUS, AND SELF-DEPRECATING. WHEN INTOXICATED, THE ADOLESCENTS EXHIBITED FALSE SELF-CONFIDENCE IN THEIR PERSONAL CONTACTS, INCREASED MASCULINITY, AND SOMETIMES AGGRESSIVE OUTBURSTS. HOWEVER, THESE BEHAVIOR ALTERATIONS, ONLY OCCURRING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, REMAINED SUPERFICIAL AND SIMPLY REPRESENTED THE PASSAGE FROM SUBMISSION TO SOCIAL PRESSURES TO ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY. THE STUDY UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE FOR YOUNG DRINKERS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. --IN FRENCH. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MHP)