Are younger or older unemployed Australians more likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury?
Unemployed Australians aged 60-69 years are the age group most likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, followed by those aged 18-24 years.
62% of unemployed Australians aged 14-17 years abstain from alcohol, 26% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 12%* drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
26% of unemployed Australians aged 18-24 years abstain from alcohol, 43% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 31% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
29% of unemployed Australians aged 25-29 years abstain from alcohol, 41% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 30% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
36% of unemployed Australians aged 30-39 years abstain from alcohol, 44% 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.
26% of unemployed Australians aged 40-49 years abstain from alcohol, 45% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 29% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
24% of unemployed Australians aged 50-59 years abstain from alcohol, 56% 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.
29% of unemployed Australians aged 60-69 years abstain from alcohol, 39% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 32% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
26%** of unemployed Australians aged 70+ years abstain from alcohol, 59%* drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 14%** 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.
** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.
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.
** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.
Please note: Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
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.