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Australians Worried About Binge Drinking

by Gopalan on May 11 2009 1:18 PM

More and more Australians are worried about binge drinking. As many as 80 per cent of those surveyed in a recent study said it was a national problem.

Barely a year ago only 63 per cent had felt that way, said the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation that had commissioned the survey.

The Foundation's chairman Scott Wilson said the survey was an alcohol industry "bellwether" because customers were changing their views on binge drinking.

He felt the swing in attitude could be largely attributed to government efforts to put binge drinking on the national agenda.

"Awareness is always the first step towards change, and this indicates quite a remarkable shift in awareness within little more than 12 months," he said.

"We still have a way to go in seeing this attitudinal shift translate into firm action on the part of the community, the Government, and the alcohol industry.

"However, it's encouraging to finally see such widespread acknowledgment amongst the Australian public that we need to do something about our drinking problems."

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Almost 100 per cent of respondents agreed the responsibility to help communities with alcohol problems should be shared between governments, alcohol manufacturers, alcohol retailers, individuals and the health and not-for-profit sector.

"It seems clear that we are moving into a period when there is a new wave of responsibility emerging," he said. 

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Two-thirds believed the Government should regulate marketing and advertising alcohol products.

More than 70 per cent thought the Federal Government was responsible for helping communities that have alcohol problems.

About 60 per cent wanted governments to provide solutions to alcohol-related violence and binge drinking.

A survey by the alcohol industry, out this week, found 78 per cent believed the alcopops tax should be scrapped in favour of a comprehensive strategy to tackle binge drinking among young people.

Source-Medindia
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