Examining Australia's heaviest drinkers

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the distribution of alcohol consumption in Australia, identifying the heaviest drinking 10% of the population and examining their sociodemographic characteristics and their alcohol consumption and purchasing practices. Methods: Data came from the 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey and the 2013 International Alcohol Control Study. The heaviest drinking 10% of the population identified based on estimates of annual alcohol consumption. Logistic regression was then used to assess the factors that distinguished these heaviest drinkers from the rest of the drinking population. Results: The heaviest drinking 10% of the population consumed 54.4% of all alcohol consumed. These heavy drinkers were more likely to be men and to live in regional and remote areas. They were more likely to drink cask wine and full‐strength beer and to purchase cheaper alcohol than other drinkers. Conclusions: Australian alcohol consumption is heavily skewed. Alcohol consumption practices appear to differentiate the heaviest drinkers from others more clearly than sociodemographic factors. Implications for public health: Public health interventions that reduce drinking among the heaviest 10% of drinkers in Australia have the potential to markedly reduce per‐capita consumption and reduce alcohol‐related harm. Interventions focused on cheap alcohol may be effective with these drinkers.

The impact of a minimum unit price on wholesale alcohol supply trends in the Northern Territory, Australia

“…In support of the first hypothesis, we found MUP associated with an immediate reduction in estimated cask wine consumption in Darwin/Palmerston and throughout the Territory. Cask wine is a beverage preference for Australia's heaviest alcohol consumers 6 and has been previously identified as a highly problematic product throughout the Northern Territory 10…”

“…In Australia, an estimated three‐quarters of all alcohol consumed is attributable to the top 20% of heaviest drinkers 6 . Alcohol use and attributable harms are highest in the Northern Territory (NT), 7 where the social cost is an estimated AU$1.4 billion annually 8 .…”

Public Health Thinking Around Alcohol-Related Harm: Why Does Per Capita Consumption Matter?

“…The skew distribution implies that the small fraction of drinkers who drink most heavily account for a disproportionately high fraction of total consumption. For instance, in Australia, the heaviest drinking 10% of the population drank more than half of all alcohol consumed (Livingston & Callinan, 2019).…”

Content analysis of websites selling alcohol online in Australia

“…Product‐only costs and costs inclusive of delivery to Sydney, NSW, in Australian dollars (AUD) were examined. The examination of the cost of the cheapest alcohol for home delivery is relevant as it has been established that the heaviest drinkers in Australia are more likely to purchase cheaper alcohol than other drinkers, and are more likely to drink at home . Beer and cask wine were selected for examination as the heaviest drinkers in Australia are more likely to drink these as their main drinks .…”

“…The examination of the cost of the cheapest alcohol for home delivery is relevant as it has been established that the heaviest drinkers in Australia are more likely to purchase cheaper alcohol than other drinkers, and are more likely to drink at home . Beer and cask wine were selected for examination as the heaviest drinkers in Australia are more likely to drink these as their main drinks . The cost of RTDs were also examined as it has been established that young drinkers, particularly those who drink at risky levels, are most likely to drink these beverages or spirits .…”