Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Campaign tackles binge drinking

A new campaign has been launched in New South Wales aimed at curbing binge drinking.

The $1 million anti-binge drinking campaign “What Are You Doing To Yourself?” targets the 16-20 year old age group and aims to stop young people from engaging in risky behaviour which is fuelled by alcohol.

The campaign includes advertisements to be displayed on public transport, in cafes and in pub toilets, shows young people in social environments and demonstrates how getting drunk can change personalities and behaviour and will target six areas across the state, including inner-city Sydney, the eastern beaches, the northern beaches, Parramatta, Newcastle and Orange.

According to NSW Health Minister John Della Bosca, figures show an 130% increase in alcohol-related emergency department admissions since 2000 mostly among 18-24 year olds and the campaign aims to prompt a cultural change in young people’s attitude to risky drinking.

Mr Della Bosca says the campaign’s key message is that everyone has to take personal responsibility for their own behaviour when socialising but the launch comes at the same time as a new beverage aimed at younger drinkers hits the market that is designed to bypass the federal government’s alcopop laws.

Apparently the Smirnoff Platinum drink which looks like a vodka mixer, contains six per cent alcohol, and is actually a mutant beer, which means it evades the alcopop tax on pre-mix spirits increasing their cost by around 70%.

The Health Minister has targeted alcohol manufacturers and says the way they advertise their products is harmful and says approximately 264 young Australians between the age of 15-24 die every year as the result of risky alcohol consumption.

Former Olympian 29 year old Geoff Huegill says he supports the project and says athletes have not always set the best example for young people when it comes to binge drinking.

He says he has himself changed his ways and has cut out irresponsible drinking as part of his swimming comeback plan and wants to encourage young people to follow his lead.

The campaign has the support of DrinkWise Australia, a not-profit organisation aimed at promoting safe drinking habits.

source: News Medical

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Driving After Binge Drinking More Common Than Believed

Nearly one in eight binge drinkers say they get behind the wheel and drive within two hours of drinking, U.S. government researchers report. The new research adds a timeline and other new information to what’s known about drinking and driving, said study author Dr. Timothy Naimi, a physician with the alcohol team at the U.S…..

Ian Oliver: Legalising drugs would only make matters worse

Recently, A great deal of media attention has been focused on a call for the legalisation of drugs by a former civil servant who was responsible for the Cabinet’s anti-drug unit. In The Independent last week, Julian Critchley said that legalisation would be “less harmful than the current strategy” and that an “overwhelming majority of….

Many Parents Encourage Underage Drinking

Do you let your underage child consume alcohol at home? In Australia, many parents allow and even encourage underage drinking for teens 15 to 17 years of age, even though the impact of alcohol on these children can be significant. The Australian Drinking Guidelines, released by the National Health and Research Medical Council, recommend that….

Young binge drinkers are following example set by parents, says expert

Binge drinking is more likely to be caused by parental example than allowing a teenager a glass of wine with a meal, according to the head of York’s youth offending team. The comments of Simon Page come after the Government’s chief medical advisor, Sir Liam Donaldson, said under 15s should drink no alcohol whatsoever and….

35 to 55 – the danger zone for women recovering from alcoholism

According to an Australian researcher women recovering from alcoholism are in danger of relapsing between age 35 and 55 due to the increased pressure from family and work commitments. Ms Janice Withnall, who is three years into a PhD on the experiences of women who are recovering from alcohol dependency, says women are at a….