Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced Monday that binge drinking which has become an "epidemic" among young Australians will be targeted by a new government strategy.
An initial 53 million dollars (49 million US) would be spent on a programme to tackle the problem, particularly in sporting organisations, he said in a statement."Binge drinking imposes a huge toll on our community," Rudd said.
A survey found that in any given week, approximately 10 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds reported binge drinking or drinking at risky levels of seven or more drinks for males, and five or more for females, in one session.
A study of community football clubs showed that 13 percent of 18-20 year olds drank 13 or more standard drinks each visit -- and that 70 percent of males believed drinking was an important tradition at their club.
Describing the problem as a "binge drinking epidemic among young Australians," Rudd said the campaign would use a range of methods to tackle the problem in partnership with the community and sporting clubs.
Twenty million dollars would be spent on hard-hitting advertising confronting young people with the costs and consequences of binge drinking.
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He warned that sporting groups could be stripped of public funding if they did not make an effort to curb binge drinking among their young members.
Source-AFP
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