What proportion of Australians drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury?
Thirty-two percent of Australians (aged 14 years and over) drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury.
24% of Australians abstain from alcohol, 44% drink alcohol in ways that reduce their risk of alcohol-related disease or injury, and 32% drink alcohol in ways that increase their risk of alcohol-related disease of injury.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2021). Measuring risky drinking according to the Australian alcohol guidelines.
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.