Alcohol-related harm is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Australia, cause 3000

deaths and 65,000 hospitalisations each year. It costs 15.3 billion annually for the
community.

After tobacco, alcohol is the second largest contributor to drug-related harm in Australia. It
can have both short term and long term effects. Short term effects includes increased risk of
accidents, injuries and physical harms while long term effects includes intoxication and liver
damage. The main causes of alcohol-related deaths are cancer, alcoholic liver cirrhosis and
road trauma. Older people are more likely to die from conditions related to long-term
alcohol misuse.

The National Binge Drinking Campaign is therefore announced to address the high levels of
binge drinking among young Australians.

This campaign is aimed at teenagers aged 15-17 and adults from 18-25. There are evidence
that suggests that high levels of alcohol consumption by both adolescent and young adult
drinkers is risky. It also targets parents of 13-17 year old as teenagers do look to their
parents to provide guidance and set boundaries of acceptable behaviour when drinking
alcohol. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the harms and costs of drinking including:

 Road accidents
 Alcohol related violence
 Trauma-related admissions to hospital emergency
 Unsafe sex and STI/unwanted pregnancy
 Social and personal consequences related to social embarrassment

Teenagers aged 15-17 years and young adults aged 18-25 years

Drinking to intoxication can lead to socially unacceptable behaviour and consequences that
are regrettable; and

Avoiding drinking to intoxication can have a range of social and health benefits.

Parents of 13-17 year olds

Parents and carers have a role in educating their teenage children about the possible
consequences of excessive drinking and in setting clear behavioural boundaries; and

Teenagers generally look to parents and carers for support and direction.