Cross-sectional data were obtained from 3,694 elementary school students in the eighth and ninth grades from several cities in Slovakia (mean age 14.5, 49.0 percent men; response rate 93 percent). Respondents completed questions on the use of alcohol and on family structure (parental divorce), the socioeconomic position of the family (parents' education and family affluence), perceived social support, extraversion, self-esteem, aggression and psychological well-being. They were split into three groups based on the pattern of alcohol use-abstainers, consumers and excessive drinkers (i.e. being drunk at least once during the past 4 weeks). The results showed significant differences between abstainers, consumers and excessive drinkers in almost every characteristic explored. A risky pattern of alcohol consumption occurs more frequently among adolescents who have divorced parents, higher socioeconomic position, higher scores for perceived social support from friends, extraversion, negative self-esteem and aggression, and lower scores for social support from family and for well-being. A risky pattern of alcohol consumption is more likely among relatively easily identifiable groups of adolescents from high socioeconomic position and divorced families. Their personalities and social networks have characteristics that could be accommodated in preventive interventions as well. (Published Abstract) Tables and references