Resumen:
After describing briefly the cultural practices of the indigenous community of Jebalá (Totoró, Cauca), the present study aims to establish the prevalence of some alcoholic beverages in a specific group of indigenous youth, determining: gender and age at which it was initiated of consumption; types of beverages, both artisan and industrial; level of knowledge of the harmful effects of alcohol, and the association between consumption and cultural practices that affect it. The methodology used was the qualitative approach of social research, since it was intended to understand the cultural practices that influence the consumption of alcoholic beverages by young people. All this from a qualitative analysis of life stories as an element that by voice of the students allowed to know their experience against consumption, as well as their dreams and their goals to be realized, always in the midst of a participatory dynamic under the ethical criteria of social research. The findings showed the current reality of young people and the consumption of alcoholic beverages as a mechanism for social-community integration. In view of the situation presented, the vulnerability situation faced by children and young people was analyzed with the worrying increase in the consumption of alcoholic beverages at an earlier age, creating risk in the community. As a conclusion, it is found that the 'Life Stories', as a method applicable to the knowledge and deepening of the problem selected as an investigative object - alcohol intake in indigenous communities - allows to establish several determinants for such habit of economic, social, political, family, cultural and traditional, among others; likewise makes it possible to deal with broader approaches that demonstrate the complexity of the phenomenon. These 'Life Stories' provide qualitative information that contributes to a better analysis of the social reality in the Nasa community, basing the known problematization, since this method places us as listeners of illusions, frustrations, needs, feelings, fears, thoughts, hopes, joys, always from the story of their own protagonists.
Finally, it becomes a significant contribution for future research, taking into account that it is novel and there are no research of this type at local and national level.