Binge Drinking Info

7/31/2019 Binge Drinking Info

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Recent research has shown that 168,000 Australians between 12 and 17 have reported binge drinking or drinking

at risky levels.

10 percent of teenagers binge drink every week

50 percent of 16-year-olds drink at harmful levels

35 percent of teenage males consume between 11 and 30 drinks per session

More teenagers die from the effects of alcohol than any other drug

http://today.ninemsn.com.au/healthandbeauty/389689/binge-drinking-epidemic

Short-term harms can be those that are immediately harmful to your health. For example, hangovers, headaches,

nausea, shakiness and possibly vomiting and memory loss. There is also the risk that a person could overdose

on alcohol (sometimes called alcohol poisoning) which can cause death.

Other problems can be caused by the way alcohol makes you behave. These include the risk of falls, assaults,

car accidents, unplanned pregnancy, shame and embarrassment about your behaviour, loss of valuable items

such as a damaged car or lost phone, and financial losses through reckless spending while intoxicated, or loss of

income through time off work.

Long-term harms can include becoming physically or psychologically dependent upon alcohol, and developing

liver or brain damage.

Alcohol is the most widely used recreational drug in Australia. We have a culture of socially accepting the

drinking of alcohol, with many Australians drinking after work, at barbeques, on the weekend, and at sporting

events - just to name a few.

Binge drinking is drinking heavily on a single occasion, or drinking continuously over a number of days or weeks.

It is also commonly known as 'getting smashed', or 'drinking to get drunk' (1).

A person who binge drinks may usually have restrained drinking habits, but may frequently overindulge to an

extreme level.

Alternatively, someone may not necessarily set out to drink a lot, but may be unsure of their limits, resulting in

drinking too much over a short period of time.

You may also be more likely to binge drink if you are feeling peer pressure to do so. Or, you may be feeling

anxious or socially awkward, for example at a party, and you may binge drink with the aim to reduce those

feelings.

Binge drinking can be immediately and directly harmful to your health. It can expose you to injury or to

unnecessary risks to yourself and others.
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As well as having adverse short-term effects, binge drinking can also cause long-term effects on your health and

well-being.

If you drink to excess you're likely to experience a number of physical effects, including:

hangovers

nausea

shakiness

vomiting and memory loss

injury to yourself

alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol is a major cause of injury and death among young people. When youre drunk, youre more likely to put

yourself in risky situations, like getting into a car with someone whos been drinking, or being the perpetrator or

victim of violence.

Some facts about alcohol:

On average, one in four hospitalisations of 15 -25 year olds happen because of alcohol (2)

70 Australians aged under 25 will be hospitalised due to alcohol-caused assault in an average week

Four Australians aged under 25 die due to alcohol related injuries in an average week (3).

Continuous heavy drinking over a long period of time can lead to:

physical and psychological dependence on alcohol

significant damage to the brain and liver

risk of cancer of the mouth, throat or oesophagus

possible increased risk of neurological disorders, heart problems, and sexual problems (especially male

impotency)

risk of emotional and mental health problems developing, such as depression and anxiety

problems at school, work and with relationships.

In addition to the health risks, binge drinking may also impact your self esteem and social life, because you may

find yourself doing things when youre drunk that you wouldnt normally do if you were sober. In fact, one in two

Australians aged 15 17 who get drunk will do something they regret.

Being drunk affects your judgement and may lead to you:

Having unprotected sex, or unwanted sex. This might lead to unwanted pregnancy, or STIs.

Feeling bad about yourself and embarrassed by your actions

Losing friends or loved ones as a result of your behaviour

Losing money that you need for other things after reckless spending on alcohol

The amount of alcohol you drink is often stated in terms of 'standard drinks'. In Australia a standard drink is any

drink that contains 10 grams of pure alcohol, but it is obviously difficult to know how much this is just by looking at

a glass!


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Binge drinking was defined as having five or more drinks on one occasion.

The study followed the progress of 800 children through to adulthood. The participants wereinterviewed annually starting when they were 13 years old, until they were 16. They were theninterviewed again at ages 18, 21 and 24. They were asked about alcohol, drug and tobacco use.

At the age of 24, they were asked about health-related behaviours, such as regular exercise. Theywere also asked if they had developed any of 18 conditions in the past year, including asthma,

diabetes and heart disease. Their blood pressure was also checked.

The researchers found that there were four distinct groups of teen binge drinkers:

-Chronic binge drinkers - they started binge drinking at age 13 and continued the practise betweenthree and five times a month until the age of 18.

-Escalators - they began drinking around the age of 15 and their bingeing increased sharply andcontinuously until they were binge drinking nearly 10 times a month by the age of 18.

-Late on-setters - they started drinking after the age of 16 and averaged two bingeing episodes amonth by the age of 18.

-Non-binge drinkers - they never or rarely engaged in binge drinking between the ages of 13 and 18.

"Being overweight or having high blood pressure can be linked to future problems such as heartdisease, diabetes and cancer. What we are seeing are the first warning signs of more serious healthproblems", said the researchers from the University of Washington.

The study also found that late on-setters were 50% more likely to have been ill in the past year,compared to those who did not drink heavily as teens. They were also 50% more likely to drive drunkor allow themselves to be passengers in a car in which they knew the driver was drunk.

Escalators meanwhile, who reported the highest overall level of binge drinking by the age of 18, werealso more likely to engage in unsafe driving situations and to engage in serious anti-social behaviour,including crime.

"Young adults who either did not binge drink or rarely did so during adolescence are the most likely tobe healthy and engage in safe health-related behaviours", the researchers said.


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Details of this study are published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol.

Underage drinking and the law

This page features information about the NSW underage drinking offences and an overview of the

liquor laws.

The legal drinking age in Australia is 18 years.

The NSW Liquor Act 2007contains a number of offences relating to under 18s (minors) on licensed

premises, and regulates the areas where minors are allowed. The NSW Registered Clubs Act

1976provides similar requirements in respect of minors in registered clubs.

View more on details on theoffences.

Questions and answers

Here are some common questions asked about the underage drinking laws:

Q: How come I'm not allowed into hotels? I'll be 18 next month.

A: Under 18s are allowed into hotels - and other licensed and club premises - under certain

circumstances. For example, a hotel might have an authority that allows minors into a bistro area if

the minor is in the company and immediate presence of a responsible adult (eg. a parent, step-

parent or guardian). There are signs in hotels, registered clubs and other licensed premises that help

you to know where under 18s are allowed or where access is restricted to adults.

Q: What are the penalties for drinking alcohol if you're under 18?

A: There are a number of offences in the liquor legislation - for under 18s and for adults who supply

alcohol to under 18s. Monetary penalties for these offences range from $1,100 up to $11,000. On-

the-spot fines can also be issued by police.

View more on details on theoffences.

Q: What is a second party sale?

A: A second party sale occurs when a person supplies alcohol to a minor - either free at a private

party in a home (for example) or after being asked by a minor to buy alcohol on the minor's behalf.

The person who supplies the alcohol to the minor is committing a second party sale offence and is

liable to a maximum penalty of $5,500 - or $11,000 and/or 12 months prison if (for example) young

children or large amounts of alcohol are involved. On-the-spot fines of $550 can also be issued by

police.

View more on more information aboutsecond party sales.
http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/youth_fines.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/youth_fines.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/youth_fines.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/youth_fines.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/youth_fines.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/youth_fines.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_info_young_people_2nd_party.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_info_young_people_2nd_party.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_info_young_people_2nd_party.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_info_young_people_2nd_party.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/youth_fines.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/youth_fines.asp


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Q: What ID can I use to get into licensed premises?

A: A NSW Proof of Age Card, driver's licence, passport or NSW Photo Card - but only if these

documents are valid/in force, and include your photograph and date of birth to prove you are over

18. A licensee, club secretary, or their staff, will ask you to prove your age if they suspect you may be

under 18.

View more information on information aboutproof of age cards.

Q: Can a licensee, club secretary or their staff take/confiscate my ID?

A: No - licensees, secretaries and their staff do not have the power to confiscate your photo ID.

However, if a NSW Proof of Age Card is suspected of being false or used fraudulently, the NSW liquor

laws allows a licensee, secretary or their staff to confiscate it. The Card must not be held by the

premises but forwarded to the police for appropriate action.

Licensees, secretaries and their staff do not have any power to confiscate driver's licences, NSWPhoto Cards, or passports.

What is a standard drink?

A standard drink is any drink containing 10 grams of alcohol. One standard drink always contains the

same amount of alcohol regardless of container size or alcohol type (ie beer, wine, or spirit).

A standard drink is a unit of measurement. In the same way one metre measures a particular

distance travelled, one standard drink measures a particular amount of alcohol consumed.

What is the standard drink used for?

Instead of counting glasses or containers, drinkers count standard drinks as a way of keeping track of

how much alcohol they consume. Counting standard drinks is a much more reliable measure of how

much alcohol is consumed compared to counting glasses, bottles, or cans.

Counting glasses, bottles, or cans of alcohol can be misleading because they can contain varying

amounts of alcohol.

The consumption limits in the Australian Alcohol Guidelines are based on the standard drink

concept.

Underage Drinking During the past month (30 days), 26.4% of underage persons (ages 12-20) used alcohol, and

binge drinking among the same age group was 17.4%.SAMHSA

Alcohol use remains extremely widespread among todays teenagers. Nearly three quartersof students (72%) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by the end of highschool, and more than a third (37%) have done so by eighth grade.

NIDA
http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_info_photo_card.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_info_photo_card.asphttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_info_photo_card.asphttp://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduhLatest.htmhttp://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduhLatest.htmhttp://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/vol1_2009.pdfhttp://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/vol1_2009.pdfhttp://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/vol1_2009.pdfhttp://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduhLatest.htmhttp://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/liquor_info_photo_card.asp


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Past-month alcohol use rates declined between 2002 and 2008 for those ages 12-13 (4.3% to3.4%), 14 or 15 (16.6% to 13.1%), 16 or 17 (32.6% to 26.2%), and 18-20 (51.0% to 48.7%).SAMHSA

Among race demographics, whites had the highest percentage of underage (ages 12-20)past-month alcohol use (30.4%). Asians had the lowest rate at 16.1%.

SAMHSA In 2008, 56.2% of current underage drinkers (ages 12-20) reported that their last use of

alcohol occurred in someone elses home; 29.6% reported that it occurred in their own home. SAMHSA

Among underage drinkers (ages 12-20), 30.8% paid for the alcohol the last time they drank including 8.3% who purchased the alcohol themselves and 22.3% who gave money tosomeone else to purchase it. Among those who did not pay for the alcohol they drank, 37.4%got it from an unrelated person of legal drinking age; 21.1% received it from a parent,guardian, or other adult family member.SAMHSA
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Binge Drinking Info