Enjoy Australia Day - moderate your drinking
22 January 2010
On the eve of Australia Day, Hunter New England Health officials are urging people to moderate their drinking as they celebrate our national day.
Health data shows that people in the Hunter New England Health Service area continue to drink at risk levels above the state average.
The 2008 NSW Population Health Survey, the latest data of its kind, showed that a significantly higher proportion of adults in the Hunter New England Area Health Service (38 per cent) engaged in risk drinking behaviour, compared with the overall adult NSW population (33.8 per cent).
The survey also showed that a significantly higher proportion of adults in rural health areas (38.2 per cent) than urban health areas (32 per cent) engaged in any risk drinking behaviour.
Males drank at higher rates of risk alcohol consumption than females.
Hunter New England Health Director of Population Health Dr John Wiggers said at risk drinking can result in a number of consequences including injury and harm.
“Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to one third of all road deaths; half of all domestic, physical and sexual violence; and 80 per cent of night-time assaults,” Dr Wiggers said.
“Consistent with NSW trends, the Hunter New England Health region has seen a continued reduction in the reported prevalence of risk alcohol consumption in the past decade or so.
“However, residents in our health region continue to remain more likely than their NSW counterparts to consume risk amounts of alcohol.”
Dr Wiggers said data and behaviours around alcohol consumption pointed to a culture of drinking to excess.
“Australia Day is a chance to enjoy and celebrate our national day. Unfortunately when you add alcohol it can fuel the ‘ugly Aussie’ side of our culture.
“Drinking in moderation would be a great start to everyone enjoying the day.”
Tips for celebrating safely:
• Don’t be afraid to set consumption limits for yourself, and stick to them. Don’t let other people pressure you into drinking more than you want.
• Quench your thirst first. Have a non-alcoholic drink first if you are thirsty.
• Drink slowly. Take sips, not gulps.
• Alternate your drinks – follow each alcoholic drink with a glass or bottle of water, or soft drink, juice or other non-alcoholic alternative
• Drink from a small glass. Some wine glasses can hold several standard drinks.
• Be aware of exactly what you are drinking. “Alcopops” or sweet flavoured pre-mixed drinks can be quite strong, even though they don’t taste like strong alcohol.
• Try a low alcohol/non-alcoholic alternative.
• Eat before and while drinking, but avoid salty snacks, which will make you thirsty.
• Avoid getting into a “round” or a “shout”. They are sure to make you drink faster, and drink more, so that you can keep up with your friends.
• Avoid “top ups”. Drink one drink at a time so that you can keep track of how much you are drinking.
• Stay busy. Don’t just sit and drink. Dancing, playing music or games can take the focus away from drinking.
Please note:
• The 2008 Report on Adult Health from the New South Wales Population Health Survey is available at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/surveys/hsa/08.asp
• Risk alcohol behaviour was defined as per Guideline 1 of the 2001 Australian Alcohol Guidelines as 1 or more of the following: consuming alcohol every day, consuming on average more than 4 if male or 2 if female standard drinks per day, or consuming more than 6 if male or 4 if female standard drinks on any occasion in the last 4 weeks.
Contact: Frances Holz
Phone: 4939 2216