Are younger or older Australian employees more likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury?
Employed Australians aged 18-24 years are the age group most likely to drink alcohol at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury.
45% of employed Australians aged 14-17 years abstain from alcohol, 35% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 20%* drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
14% of employed Australians aged 18-24 years abstain from alcohol, 38% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 48% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
19% of employed Australians aged 25-29 years abstain from alcohol, 40% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 41% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
17% of employed Australians aged 30-39 years abstain from alcohol, 48% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 35% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
15% of employed Australians aged 40-49 years abstain from alcohol, 48% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 37% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
13% of employed Australians aged 50-59 years abstain from alcohol, 49% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 39% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
14% of employed Australians aged 60-69 years abstain from alcohol, 50% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 35% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
19% of employed Australians aged 70+ years abstain from alcohol, 43% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 38% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2021).
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
Please note: Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
Employed: Self-employed or working for salary or wages.
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.