Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ADCA, Mr David Templeman, said today the annual alcohol-related cost was $15.3 billion, and that there were more than 42 million occasions of binge drinking in our nation each year.

“Unfortunately Australia’s ‘drinking culture’ is a national disgrace, and the holiday season seems to signal the start for some people of heavy drinking and unguarded and dangerous behaviour,” Mr Templeman said.

”Despite responsible drinking arrangements being in place for major national sporting activities such as the Boxing Day Test Cricket clash between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, and the first Test of 2010 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, these events can often marred by those who flaunt the laws regarding alcohol and associated violence, and put themselves and others in danger.”

The Preventative Health Taskforce reports that 84 per cent of Australians consider intoxication to be unacceptable and are concerned about the impact of alcohol on the community. Also, some four Australians aged 25 years and under die each week due to alcohol-related injuries.

There is also an increased risk of drowning during this period, with people mixing alcohol and leisure activities. The Australian Water Safety Strategy has recognised that one of the priority areas is to target men aged 18 to 34 and alcohol. Overall, the Strategy aims to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in drowning deaths by the year 2020.

ADCA also applauds Operation Unite, a recent two-day initiative which involved 9715 Australian and New Zealand Police Officers who targeted alcohol-fuelled violence and made 2781 arrests in both countries. There were some 570 arrests for assault, another 1280 liquor licensing breaches, and alcohol-related presentations dropped at hospital emergency departments.

“We can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to excessive drinking and excuse it as acceptable behaviour,” Mr Templeman said. “This is a serious matter and for the health and wellbeing of all Australians we all have a responsibility to take action to address it.

“The Government’s current initiative to establish a National Preventative Health Agency is an encouraging first step in implementing the Taskforce’s identified areas of concern to address obesity, smoking and alcohol misuse in our community.”

Mr Templeman said that this time of year should be about enjoying family and friends, not a time of stress and trauma caused by excessive drinking and the taking of other drugs which can result in anti-social behaviour, and domestic violence.

Media Enquiries: Brian Flanagan, Manager Strategic Communications and Policy Phone 02 6215 9802 or 0400 860 058