Are unemployed men or women in Australia more likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury?

Unemployed Australian men are more likely than unemployed women to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury.

29% of unemployed Australian men abstain from alcohol, 39% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 32% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.

35% of unemployed Australian women abstain from alcohol, 47% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 18% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2021).

Increased risk of alcohol-related disease or injury: Current Australian alcohol guidelines state that healthy men and women’s risk of alcohol-related disease or injury is increased if they drink more than 10 standard drinks a week and more than 4 standard drinks on any one day.

Reduced risk of alcohol-related disease or injury: Current Australian alcohol guidelines state that healthy men and women’s risk of alcohol-related disease or injury is reduced if they drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day.

Standard Drink: A drink that contains 10 grams (or 12.5 millilitres) of alcohol.

Unemployed: Not currently working and actively seeking employment.