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Published on: January 7, 2019
Examining Australia's heaviest drinkers.
Michael Livingston1,2, Sarah Callinan1
1Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Victoria.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
|April 18, 2019
Summary
Australia's heaviest drinkers, the top 10%, consume over half of all alcohol. This group, often men in regional areas, favors cheaper alcohol, highlighting intervention opportunities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Alcohol Research
Background:
- Alcohol consumption patterns significantly impact public health outcomes.
- Understanding the distribution of alcohol intake is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the heaviest drinking 10% of the Australian population.
- To analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of these heavy drinkers.
- To examine their specific alcohol consumption and purchasing behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey and 2013 International Alcohol Control Study.
- Identified the heaviest drinkers based on estimated annual alcohol consumption.
- Employed logistic regression to determine factors distinguishing heavy drinkers.
Main Results:
- The top 10% of drinkers accounted for 54.4% of total alcohol consumed.
- Heavy drinkers were more likely to be male and reside in regional/remote areas.
- They preferred cask wine and full-strength beer, and purchased cheaper alcohol.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol consumption in Australia is highly concentrated among a small percentage of the population.
- Consumption and purchasing habits are stronger differentiators of heavy drinkers than sociodemographics.
- Interventions targeting the heaviest drinkers, particularly concerning cheaper alcohol, could significantly reduce overall consumption and harm.
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