Binge Drinking in Australia
(especially Teenagers)
By Kylie &
Janelle, 2011
Alcohol
• In everyday use, alcohol usually refers to
beer, wine or spirits containing ethyl
alcohol- a substance that can cause
drunkenness, and changes in
consciousness, mood and emotions.
• Due to the different ways alcohol can affect people
there is no amount of alcohol that can be said to be
safe for everyone.
“lets get maggoted”
“off your face”
“getting smashed”
What is binge drinking?
“Binge drinking is defined as episodic excessive
drinking”. Dangerous
Vomiting
Learned Behaviour
Nausea
Over-indulging to extreme levels
Salvos:“Large amounts every now and then, and losing control”
Suffering from alcohol poisoning
Salvos: “More than 6 drinks in a row”
Unhealthy
Hangovers
Excessive
Australian
Culture
• The 2003 Alcohol Summit report states that
“drinking alcohol is intrinsic to Australian
culture and the activity is seen as both
normal, sociable and accepted.”
• Alcohol is perceived to be liberating and
empowering.
• Getting drunk is a badge of being an adult and
drinking is one of the significant “rights of
passage into adulthood.”
Adolescent Culture
• Alcohol plays a significant part in adolescent
culture- it is very much a group activity for
younger age groups.
• There is some evidence to suggest that many
underage drinkers set out to get drunk and get
drunk quickly.
• The prime intention of becoming intoxicated by
heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period
of time is Binge Drinking.
• Binge drinking is more common in males during
adolescent and young adulthood.
• The more often a child or adolescent binge
drinks, and the younger they are, the more likely
they are that they will develop an alcohol use
disorder including Alcoholism.
• Gateway drug. A large number of adolescents
who binge drink, also consume other
psychotropic substances.
Moral Issues
• 49% of Australian adults believe that underage
drinking under parental supervision in the
home is acceptable.
• 1 in 5 teenagers report drinking weekly
• The majority of young Australians who report
drinking at home, also report parents as their
primary suppliers of Alcohol.
• Should you allow your 17 year old to drink
alcohol??? (July 2011)
Australian Parents Supporting
Underage Drinking
Western Australia
NSW & ACT
SA and NT
For
For
Against
For
Against
Against
QLD & Victoria
Tasmania
For
Against
For
Against
www.mbf.com.au 2009
Short Term Harms of Binge Drinking
• Young people when intoxicated are more likely to
indulge in risky behaviour such as:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Swimming
Driving
Unsafe/Unwanted Sex
Verbal/Physical Abuse
Depression/Suicidal Behaviour
Disrupted Family Relationships
Delinquent Behaviour
Long Term Harms of Binge Drinking
• Maturation of adolescent brain. Human Brain
is still developing until the mid 20s. Disruption
with a neurotoxin like Alcohol, may lead to
learning difficulties, memory problems,
reduced performance on attention based
testing.
• Alcohol Associated illnesses
• Social Problems
Rudd supports raising drinking age
JENNIFER MACEY: What about the argument though that raising the drinking age simply leads to more
underground binge drinking?
IAN WEBSTER: Well, I think that is right. That is the dilemma in our society. I think there are moral ethical
arguments as to whether you should increase the drinking age. We expect young people to go to war and
fight for us at the age of 18. We expect them to vote for us at the age of 18.
So I think it is a very contested ethical, moral judgement which society would have to make despite the
evidence one way or another and I personally think the evidence has yet to be sorted out.
JENNIFER MACEY: At one of Sydney's most popular late night drinking spots reactions were mixed.
VOX POP: Oh, I just think it is a joke. Like when I was 21 I was more mature, as mature at least as I am
now.
VOX POP 2: The young kids are going to get alcohol no matter what so if you raise it to 21
they are still going to drink.
Ethical Issue
Reflection
Is teenage binge
drinking an ethical
issue or is it simply
part of Australian
culture???
References
NSW Alcohol Summit preliminary background paper April 2003
www.alcoholsummit.nsw.gov.au
AM Rudd Supports Raising Drinking Age
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2010/s2813946.htm
Australian Bureau of Statistics: Alcoholism
www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/4832.0.55.001/
MBF Fact Sheet
www.mbf.com.au