Risky Alcohol Consumption

Indicator Rationale

Regular excessive consumption of alcohol places people at increased risk of chronic ill health and premature death, and episodes of heavy drinking may place the person (and others) at risk of injury or death. In the short term, intoxication and acute alcohol-related problems include violence, risky behaviour, road trauma and injury. The significant psychosocial and economic consequences that arise from such patterns of drinking affect not only the individuals concerned but also their families and the wider community.

Data Source

Victorian Population Health Survey 2008 

Measures

Risky alcohol consumption is defined as the percentage of people drinking weekly at levels above short-term risk of alcohol consumption. The Victorian Population Health Survey was collected at the Local Government Area (LGA) level for the first time in 2008 and was previously collected at the regional level before this date.

Survey Question

How often do you usually drink alcohol?  I never drink alcohol; Less than once a month; less than once a week; on 1 or 2 days a week; on 3 or 4 days a week; on 5 or 6 days a week; everyday.

On a day you drink alcohol, how many standard drinks do you usually have?  1 or 2 drinks per day; 3 or 4 drinks per day; 5 to 8 drinks per day; 9 or more drinks per day.

The 2001 Australian Alcohol Guidelines: Health Risks and Benefits (NHMRC 2001) define short-term risk of alcohol consumption in terms of the number of standard drinks consumed per drinking occasion. The guidelines for the whole population indicate that males who drink up to six standard drinks and females who drink up to four standard drinks are at low risk of alcohol related harm in the short-term. Males who drink 11 or more drinks and females who consume seven or more drinks are categorised as being at high risk of alcohol related harm. Between these levels, alcohol consumption behaviour is classified as risky in the short-term. The 2001 Alcohol Guidelines were used to calculate risky alcohol consumption in the 2008 VPHS survey as they were current when the interviews were conducted though. The NHMRC Alcohol Guidelines were reviewed and updated in 2009 but have not been applied to the 2008 VPHS data. It is also important to note that before 2008 VPHS data were only collected across Victorian Regions and 2008 was the first time VPHS data were collected across Victorian Local Government Areas.  

 

References

National Health and Medical Research Council. (2009). Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. Canberra.

National Health and Medical Research Council. (2001). Australian alcohol guidelines: health risks and benefits. Canberra.