Think About That Third (or Fourth) Drink

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 24 Jun 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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"Binge drinking" is a useful term that indicates an excessive, unhealthy and dangerous level of drinking. "Binge" drinkers aim to get drunk, often as quickly as possible. It is disappointing to see the term misused in the current debate over the new National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC) Guidelines (Sunday Age, 15 June 2008). These guidelines are not about defining what is or is not a "binge", but instead aim to inform the public about what risks they are taking when choosing to consume alcohol.

At the Australian Drug Foundation, we understand binge drinking to be drinking to the point of intoxication, and usually with the intent of getting intoxicated. The amount drunk to reach such a state is different depending on the drinker's gender, weight, height, age, what product is being consumed and a myriad of other factors.

The NHMRC Guidelines, to be released next month, have been arrived at after painstaking research by Australia's top experts in the field. These drinking guidelines have been developed by key scientists in alcohol and addiction studies. We know more now about how alcohol harms our community and our bodies than we did when the last guidelines were released in 2001, and it is crucial that our guidelines for the community reflect this new knowledge. These Guidelines also introduce a new paradigm for understanding "risky drinking", one that includes immediate risks such as violence, sexual assault and car accidents, as well as the long-term health effects previously considered by the NHMRC.

Drinkers who are aware of the new Guidelines will know that if they choose to drink more than two drinks in one sitting, then they are increasing their risk of harm. The two drink limit is based on research that indicates there is a 1 in 100 chance of encountering harm after drinking two drinks, but that chance of harm increases exponentially with each subsequent drink. This doesn't mean you can't drink more than two drinks, but if you do so, it is best that you take precautions to protect yourself against any immediate harm.

Educating the public about this message is our next challenge. The scientists have done their work, they have analysed the research, compiled the data and come up with their recommendations. It is now up to governments and agencies like ours to ensure that people understand the message. The Guidelines are not about following what the community already thinks is acceptable levels of drinking. Nor are they about expecting everyone to immediately change their drinking habits and jump on the Guidelines' bandwagon. There will be a period of education and change so that people have the opportunity to understand what the guidelines mean. The public debate surrounding this issue, which is aided by the media, is worthwhile because it raises people's awareness about the issues surrounding safe drinking and encourages them to reflect on their own drinking habits.

Essentially, how much alcohol one drinks is a personal choice, and one that the ADF, NHMRC and Federal Government aren't trying to take away. But we should also think about to what extent people are pressured to make choices to drink in the current drinking climate - are people choosing to binge drink on the weekend because they want to, or are they doing it because they feel they are expected to? Do you drink that extra glass of wine because you really want it, or because your mate has offered to buy the next round? This is where hopefully the NHMRC Guidelines, as well as changes to alcohol marketing and volumetric taxes, can help. Increasing awareness about the risks of drinking should be a priority.

It is crucial that, when the Guidelines are officially released, that they are done so alongside a comprehensive communication plan, so that Australians understand what the issues are and just what is being asked of them. 3,400 Australians dying from alcohol-related disease and injury every year is too many. We must do all that we can do to encourage the public to rethink their drinking.

John Rogerson
CEO, Australian Drug Foundation

Australian Drug Foundation