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Harm Minimisation
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Harm Minimization
- The dangers of Alcohol
By Matilda Hindle
Drinking Safely
Drinking Safely
It's recommended to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread across 3 days or more. That's around 6 medium (175ml) glasses of wine, or 6 pints of 4% beer.
RISKS
Risks
- accidents and injury
- violence and antisocial behaviour
- unsafe sex – this can lead to unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- loss of personal possessions – this could put your job or education at risk
Statistics
Australian statistics
- The international survey found Australians drank to the point of drunkenness an average of 27 times a year, almost double the global average of 15.
- Almost a quarter of Australians reported feeling regret for becoming intoxicated.
- Australian participants tripled the global average on seeking emergency care for their drinking (3.9% compared with the global average of 1.2%).
- The 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2.8% of 14–17-year olds drink weekly (while for the 18–24 age group, the figure is 27.9%).
Short-Term Impacts
Excessive alcohol use has some immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. These are most often the result of binge drinking and include the following:
Short-Term
Health Risks
Short-Term Heath Risks
Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.
Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.
Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.
Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) among pregnant women.
Long-Term Impacts
Long-Term
Drinking large amounts of alcohol for many years will take its toll on many of the body's organs and may cause organ damage. Organs known to be damaged by long-term alcohol misuse include the brain and nervous system, heart, liver and pancreas.
There are many long-term health risks associated with alcohol misuse. They include:
Health Risks
Long-Term Heath Risks
bowel cancer
depression
dementia
sexual problems, such as impotence or premature ejaculation
infertility
high blood pressure
stroke
pancreatitis
liver disease
liver cancer
mouth cancer
head and neck cancer
breast cancer
Social Risks
Long-term Social Risks
As well as having a significant impact on your health, alcohol misuse can also have long-term social implications. For example, it can lead to:
family break-up and divorce
domestic abuse
unemployment
homelessness
financial problems
Drinking safely
Minimization
- Understand both how much alcohol you are having and how much you should have.
- Eat before (and during) drinking sessions.
- Count your drinks.
- Slow your intake with alcohol-free drinks.
- Skip the drinking games and shots.
- Don't drink and drive.
Websites
Some Helpful Websites
- https://drinkwise.org.au/
- https://www.diageo.com/en/our-business/where-we-operate/asia-pacific/diageo-australia/responsible-drinking/
- https://alcoholthinkagain.com.au/
- https://www.openarms.gov.au/living-well/drink-responsibly