Reduce alcohol content and nip binge drinking

Reduce the alcohol content and increase the cost further on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks to help combat the problem of binge drinking among Australia’s youth.

That was the message Professor Sandra Jones put forward yesterday in her lecture ‘Alcohol, Media and Your Family’ as part of Orange’s Drug Action Week.

Professor Jones, director of the Centre for Health Initiatives at the University of Wollongong, says the price of “alcopops” needs to rise further, despite a recent tax increase of up to 70 per cent on some drinks.

“It hasn’t made them that expensive,” Professor Jones said about the recent tax increase.

“It doesn’t increase it enough to stop young people buying them. It didn’t go far enough.”

Professor Jones also says the alcohol content of pre-mixed drinks needs to be reduced.

For example a 375ml can of Smirnoff Ice Black is 7 per cent alcohol - which is 2.1 standard drinks.

There needs to be more regulations on alcoholic energy drinks, because the extra caffeine can lead to young people taking more risks, Professor Jones says.

“If you drink four rum and Cokes you start feeling pretty tired,” she said. “But after four energy drinks you’re still very alert.

“You think ‘I can still drive’ and take other risks, when you are still under the influence of alcohol.”

Drink promotions, such as buying four drinks to get a free hat, need to be regulated more as well, because it gives young people an incentive to drink more, Professor Jones added.

A ban on advertising alcoholic drinks on television during sporting events should also be introduced, because it provides young people with the wrong message.

But Professor Jones says a recent senate inquiry into ready-to-drink beverages shows the Federal Government is unwilling to take action.

“The community is the only thing that can make a difference,” she said. “Out of the senate review the government’s response is ‘the community’s not complaining so there’s no need to do anything’.

“So the community needs to make its voice heard to the government.”

The lecture was part of the Drug Action Week, which was organised by the Orange Community Drug Action Team, the MERIT/RAD teams and Central West Libraries.

The theme was ‘Prevention’ with information on the awareness of alcohol and drug misuse available yesterday at the library fore court.

Central Western Daily