Are younger or older Australians more likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury?
Young Australians (aged 14-17 years) are the least likely to drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, while those aged 18-24 years are the most likely to do so.
72% of Australians aged 14-17 years abstain from alcohol, 18% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 9% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
21% of Australians aged 18-24 years from alcohol, 38% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 42% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
24% of Australians aged 25-29 years abstain from alcohol, 39% 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.
22% of Australians aged 30-39 years from alcohol, 48% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 31% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
18% of Australians aged 40-49 years abstain from alcohol, 48% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 35% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
16% of Australians aged 50-59 years from alcohol, 48% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 35% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
20% of Australians aged 60-69 years abstain from alcohol, 49% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 31% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
27% of Australians aged 70+ years from alcohol, 47% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 26% 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.