Is the employment status of Australians related to drinking at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury?
Employment status is related to drinking at levels that increase the risk of alcohol-related disease or injury. Employed Australians are the group most likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury.
16% of employed Australians abstain from alcohol, 46% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 38% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
32% of unemployed Australians abstain from alcohol, 43% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 25% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
32% of Australians not in the labour force abstain from alcohol, 43% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 25% 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).
Employed: Self-employed or working for salary or wages.
Employment Status: Whether an individual is currently: a) employed; b) unemployed; or c) not in the labour force.
Increased risk of alcohol-related disease or injury: Current Australian alcohol guidelines state that health 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.
Not in the Labour Force: Engaged in home duties, volunteer/charity work, student, retiree/pensioner, other.
Reduced risk of alcohol-related disease or injury: Current Australian alcohol guidelines state that health men and women’s risk of alcohol-related disease or injury is low 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.