Do levels of alcohol in wastewater in Australia vary by geographic location?

The amount of alcohol found in Australian wastewater varies across jurisdictions.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission reported that parts of New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Tasmania had the highest average capital city alcohol consumption. Sites in Victoria and Western Australia generally had average or below average alcohol consumption. In general, average use of alcohol was higher in regional areas than in capital cities.

Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (2022). National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program: Report 17. Canberra: ACIC.

This FAQ uses data from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program.