supplement broader responses such as increased
consumption.
taxation and reduced alcohol availability,” Dr
Other researchers from NDARC, including Dr
Livingston said.
Natacha Carragher whose research looks at the
GENDER GAP IN DRINKING HABITS CLOSES
and substance use, developed a “robust” tool to measure the stringency and enforcement of different alcohol policies. They used the tool to
A second study to be presented at the NDARC
assess policies that have been implemented in nine
Symposium found that global traditional
countries in the Western Pacific Region –
differences in male and female drinking levels had
Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong
virtually disappeared over the course of the last
Kong, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and
century.
Vietnam. Each country was scored out of a
The study, which will be presented by Dr
possible 100 on the stringency and enforcement of
Catherine Chapman and Associate Professor Tim
its alcohol policies.
Slade both researchers from UNSW who are
Countries with higher alcohol policy scores had
involved in the National Health and Medical
lower per capita consumption, according to the
Research Council’s Epidemiology Stream,
study. Australia had the highest overall rating but
gathered and synthesised data from 75 studies in
was weak on specific policies such as advertising.
59 countries, including Australia, among people
“This tool suggested that alcohol policies work in
born from the 1900s to the 1990s.
reducing consumption,” Dr Carragher said.
Men born in the early 1900s were over three times
“Australia has many strong policies, particularly in
more likely to drink alcohol than women, according to the data. The study showed that
TS
links between mental health or mood disorders
relation to motor vehicles, but still has significant gaps, particularly in relation to advertising
this ratio had
policies. Evidence
decreased so that
suggests that if we
women born in the
further strengthen
1990s are almost as
these policies, we
likely as men to
could significantly
drink alcohol.
reduce risky drinking,”
“Similar changes have
she said.
occurred with respect
The policies around
to heavy episodic or
advertising of alcohol in
binge drinking,” Dr
Australia have been in the
Chapman said.
spotlight in recent times.
“Indicators from Australia
In June 2013, Australian
increase in harms measured by hospitalisations and
suggest the drinking
Food News reported that
emergency presentations in many states and
patterns of males and
Western Australian
territories and by police data on alcohol-related
females are in line with
Commissioner of Police Karl
assaults.
global trends,” she said.
O’Callaghan had called for a
“The picture we have of drinking in Australia is
ban on alcohol advertising
consumption has dropped but harms have
POLICY MATTERS
increased. This new evidence about the divergence
The study by Dr Chapman and
alcohol-fuelled violence” had
in habits between heavy and light drinkers goes
Associate Professor Slade found
reached “epidemic proportions”.
some way to explaining the apparent
that policy made a difference to
At the same time, a report from
contradictions,” he said.
drinking habits. An analysis of
the independent Alcohol
“These changes may appear small, but increases in
16 policies in nine countries
Advertising Review Board
very heavy drinking have strong impacts on the
demonstrated there was a
(AARB) found that
risk of illness and injury,” Dr Livingston said.
relationship between the
self-regulation of alcohol
“An effective policy response to these changes in
stringency of policies, the
advertising was “failing” and
drinking habits may be to target certain
effectiveness with which
that there was an “urgent
interventions such as brief interventions in health
they were in enforced, and
need for regulation on
settings to the heaviest drinkers as a way to
resulting levels of
conflicted,” Dr Livingston said. “Overall
during sport broadcasts, saying that “binge drinking and
alcohol promotion”.
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