The changing drinking habits of Australians

By Katrina RoeMonday 9 Sep 2013Hope MorningsHealth and WellbeingReading Time: 1 minute

In recent years, police, paramedics and nurses have reported increases in antisocial behaviour, violence and alcohol-related accidents as a result of binge drinking on Friday and Saturday nights.

One explanation may be that young people are mixing alcohol with energy drinks, meaning they continue to drink after they become intoxicated, rather than simply falling asleep.

In spite of the rise of antisocial behaviour, a new study from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre reveals that most Australians are actually drinking less.  However, the heaviest drinkers are drinking more, which dramatically increases the risk of illness and injury.  Over the past 100 years, there have also been dramatic changes in the drinking habits of women, who are now consuming almost as much alcohol as men.

Audio – Dr Michael Livingstone discusses the implications of Australia’s changing drinking habits for our health, and talks about the role of public policy in altering behaviour.