Are men or women in Australia more likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury?
Australian men are more likely than women to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury.
21% of Australian men abstain from alcohol, 37% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 41% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
26% of Australian women abstain from alcohol, 51% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 23% 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).
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.