NATIONAL
LIQUOR NEWS – September 2006
Update of Indicators of alcohol consumption
among young people
by Gordon Broderick
DSICA acknowledges that there is a commonly held perception in the community of an increasing level of alcohol abuse by young and underage people. Barely a week goes by without a story in the media on the “teenage binge drinking epidemic”. Much of this view is based on anecdotes and perceptions. Despite the prominence given to the underage drinking issue, there has been little attempt to comprehensively measure the nature and extent of the problem. To help rectify this, DSICA has worked with a highly respected research academic from the Australian National University (ANU), Professor Ian McAllister, to research and analyse the best available evidence on alcohol consumption patterns amongst young people.
Professor McAllister found that the quality and reliability of a number of surveys on underage drinking have varied considerably. Many of the surveys which are regularly cited in the media are not reliable, because of a range of factors, including biased (or inadequate) sample size; biased (or unacceptable) survey methodology; use of misleading, ambiguous or undefined terms (such as ‘binge drinking’); use of reporting methods that substantially inflate the incidence of alcohol use amongst young people. The most reliable surveys identified included the National Drug Strategy (NDS) Household Survey and the Australian Secondary School Students Alcohol and Drug Use (ASSAD) Survey.
There is also a view that the increasing popularity of ready to drink alcohol beverages (RTDs) is contributing to, if not causing, increased levels of alcohol abuse. These perceptions are not supported by the facts.
DSICA has identified six key indicators in relation to alcohol consumption amongst young people (the Indicators). Based upon the best evidence available, DSICA has developed a summary table of indicators of alcohol consumption amongst young people and this has been updated with the most recent data.
The Indicators examine:
- Indicator 1: Age of initiation: at what age is alcohol most commonly first consumed?
- Indicator 2: Prevalence: what proportion of young people are current drinkers?
- Indicator 3: High risk drinking: what proportion of young people engage in high risk drinking?
- Indicator 4: Standard drinks consumed: what is the average number of standard drinks being consumed by high risk drinkers on each drinking occasion?
- Indicator 5: Alcohol-attributable deaths: how many underage drinkers are dying from alcohol-attributable deaths?
- Indicator 6: Product preference: what is the product most commonly consumed by young high risk drinkers?
So what do the Indicators show?
- There is a TRENDLESS FLUCTUATION in the age at which alcohol is most commonly first consumed (ie the age of initiation) (see Indicator 1).
- The proportion of underage people who are drinkers is NOT increasing (see Indicator 2).
- The proportion of underage drinkers who engage in high risk drinking is NOT increasing (see Indicator 3).
- The amount of alcohol consumed by “risky” and “high risk” underage drinkers is NOT increasing (see Indicator 4).
- There has been a 10% fall in the number of underage people who are dying from alcohol-attributable causes (see Indicator 5).
- There is NO LINK between the increasing popularity of RTDs and levels of harmful alcohol consumption amongst young people (see Indicator 6).
The key point demonstrated by the Indicators is that that underage drinking has stabilised or is declining. These results are counter to popular perceptions. However, this is not to say that the current levels of underage drinking are acceptable. The community, including the alcohol industry, need to work hard to change certain aspects of Australia’s drinking culture. Underage drinking has been around for a long time and only a rational debate firmly grounded on the best available evidence will result in effective strategies to reduce alcohol misuse.
