In which industries are Australian employees more likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury?
Australians employed in utilities, construction, and agriculture are the industry groups most likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury. Those employed in healthcare and education are the least likely to do so.
19% of Australians employed in agriculture abstain from alcohol, 33% 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.
15%* of Australians working in mining abstain from alcohol, 44% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 42% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
14% of Australians employed in manufacturing abstain from alcohol, 40% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 46% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
10%* of Australians employed in utilities abstain from alcohol, 33% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 57% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
11% of Australians employed in construction abstain from alcohol, 37% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 52% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
8%* of Australians employed in wholesale abstain from alcohol, 49% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 43% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
16% of Australians employed in retail 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.
17% of Australians employed in hospitality abstain from alcohol, 44% 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.
17% of Australians employed in transport abstain from alcohol, 42% 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.
16% of Australians employed in media and telecommunications abstain from alcohol, 48% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 36% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
14% of Australians employed in finance abstain from alcohol, 53% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 33% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
16%* of Australians employed in real estate abstain from alcohol, 49% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 36% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
12% of Australians employed in professional, scientific and technical services 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.
15% of Australians employed in administrative and support services abstain from alcohol, 44% 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.
13% of Australians employed in public administration and safety abstain from alcohol, 48% 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.
16% of employed Australians employed in education abstain from alcohol, 53% 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.
18% of Australians employed in healthcare abstain from alcohol, 54% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 28% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
8% of Australians employed in arts and recreation abstain from alcohol, 46% drink alcohol in ways that reduced their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 46% drink alcohol in ways that increased their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
16% of Australians employed in other industries abstain from alcohol, 43% 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.
* 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.
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.