This report was produced by the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) at Flinders University. It comprises a comprehensive literature review addressing a wide range of social and cultural factors that potentially impact on young Australians aged 14- 24 in relation to their use and non-use of alcohol. The report forms the first stage in a larger, two-stage project examining cultural factors that infl uence the drinking behaviours of young Australians.