Page 22 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 1990
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associated with the inappropriate use of this drug is depressingly large.
In terms of per capita consumption of absolute alcohol, Australia is currently ranked thirteenth in the world and is the largest consumer of alcohol amongst the English-speaking countries. Excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for cancers of the digestive system, foetal alcohol syndrome, permanent brain damage, cirrhosis of the liver and motor vehicle and other accidents such as drownings and poisonings. Of special concern to women is the association of alcohol consumption and the incidence of violence in the home.
Alcohol consumption is a major factor in reducing life expectancy. In 1987 there were about 68,800 years of life lost due to alcohol related causes. This compares with about 92,900 years of life lost due to tobacco consumption and 24,300 for all other drugs. About 6,500 Australians die from causes related to the consumption of alcohol every year. By contrast, heroin and related opiates account for only about 320 deaths per year. While the problem of heroin abuse is unquestionably important, these statistics underscore the largely unseen and unappreciated significance of the problems caused by alcohol in our society.
An estimated 190 alcohol related deaths occurred between 1981 and 1985 in the ACT alone. This is 8 per cent of all deaths in the period. A major factor in these deaths is of course road accident fatalities. Motor vehicle accidents account for about 75 per cent of the total national alcohol related deaths in the 15-34 age group. Another major factor in these deaths is the use of alcohol in the context of water with one in three drownings associated with the use of alcohol.
As you can see, Mr Speaker, the reasons for developing an alcohol policy are significant for the nation and the ACT alike. In order to have an impact on these depressing statistics a policy is needed which is both broad and allows every reasonable opportunity to reduce the problems associated with the use of alcohol. Within the broad perspective of harm minimisation, there are a number of issues that are of particular concern both to the Government and the general public. These include under age drinking, binge drinking and drink driving.
Each of these causes enormous loss and grief to the community, the family and the individuals concerned in health, social and economic terms. In particular, the level of alcohol related offences by young people in the ACT is a matter of special concern. While there is no reason to believe such problems are in any way unique to the ACT, much more must be done to address the problem of under age drinking, particularly binge drinking.
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