C
Contrarian
I've a lot of respect for these organizations which do good work - I'm not referring to The West Australian of course - but I find it hard to believe that WA's population can get so pissed. Then again, I don't go to the pub that often.
WA alcohol use among highest in the nation
The West Australian
West Australians are bigger drinkers than their Eastern States counterparts across every measure with one in eight adults binge-drinking at least once a week, according to figures.
Almost half of people aged 18 and over report some binge-drinking, or having more than four standard drinks on any day, and 6 per cent claim to drink at this level every day or on most days.
Drug and Alcohol Office data, sourced from the 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, shows drinking rates across all categories, from occasional drinking to risky consumption, are higher in WA compared with the Australian average.
In WA, 23.8 per cent of the 2000 adults surveyed said they routinely had more than two drinks a day, which experts say increases the lifetime risk of disease, compared with 21.1 per cent of people nationally.
Eight per cent of West Australians drink every day, compared with 7.7 per cent nationally.
And almost 13 per cent of West Australians drink at risky levels at least once a week, compared with 11.6 per cent nationally.
The Cancer Council of WA, which launched a controversial campaign with the State Government last week about the dangers of alcohol, said the figures reinforced its message that many people were drinking at unsafe levels.
Director of education and research Terry Slevin said it was concerning WA had higher rates across all scores.
"We have almost a quarter of the population self-reporting that they're drinking at a level that might contribute to alcohol-related harm over a lifetime," he said.
"That reinforces the importance of at least letting people know the risks they're taking when they drink at and above those levels.
"Some people believe the State Government is brave taking on this campaign when my view is the Government is just the first of many who will see the importance of making people understand the risks they're taking when consuming alcohol on a regular basis."
Mr Slevin said the short-term harm caused by alcohol was well-publicised in the media after every weekend but many people were unaware of the risk of chronic harm from drinking.
The release of the figures came as Curtin University's Mike Daube criticised the marketing of alcohol to young people.
Writing in today's Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Professor Daube said alcohol companies that developed and promoted products aimed at young drinkers should have the same "pariah" status as tobacco companies.
WA alcohol use among highest in the nation
The West Australian
West Australians are bigger drinkers than their Eastern States counterparts across every measure with one in eight adults binge-drinking at least once a week, according to figures.
Almost half of people aged 18 and over report some binge-drinking, or having more than four standard drinks on any day, and 6 per cent claim to drink at this level every day or on most days.
Drug and Alcohol Office data, sourced from the 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, shows drinking rates across all categories, from occasional drinking to risky consumption, are higher in WA compared with the Australian average.
In WA, 23.8 per cent of the 2000 adults surveyed said they routinely had more than two drinks a day, which experts say increases the lifetime risk of disease, compared with 21.1 per cent of people nationally.
Eight per cent of West Australians drink every day, compared with 7.7 per cent nationally.
And almost 13 per cent of West Australians drink at risky levels at least once a week, compared with 11.6 per cent nationally.
The Cancer Council of WA, which launched a controversial campaign with the State Government last week about the dangers of alcohol, said the figures reinforced its message that many people were drinking at unsafe levels.
Director of education and research Terry Slevin said it was concerning WA had higher rates across all scores.
"We have almost a quarter of the population self-reporting that they're drinking at a level that might contribute to alcohol-related harm over a lifetime," he said.
"That reinforces the importance of at least letting people know the risks they're taking when they drink at and above those levels.
"Some people believe the State Government is brave taking on this campaign when my view is the Government is just the first of many who will see the importance of making people understand the risks they're taking when consuming alcohol on a regular basis."
Mr Slevin said the short-term harm caused by alcohol was well-publicised in the media after every weekend but many people were unaware of the risk of chronic harm from drinking.
The release of the figures came as Curtin University's Mike Daube criticised the marketing of alcohol to young people.
Writing in today's Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Professor Daube said alcohol companies that developed and promoted products aimed at young drinkers should have the same "pariah" status as tobacco companies.
