Discursive psychology was used as a means of increasing our understanding of the way young people may talk about volume of consumption in relation to their drinking behaviour. Analysis of the audio recording and transcript of a pilot focus group discussion with four young people revealed that participants employed varying constructions of volume in their talk about alcohol consumption. Moreover, at different times, they also discussed drinking without any discernible references to volume. The implications of these constructions are discussed in relation to exchanges between professionals and young people, such as media campaigns and brief interventions. (Contains 2 notes.)