Mr MITCHELL - 1998-04-23
The front page of today's NT News states that he will release the Living With Alcohol program survey results. Is he able to give details?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be releasing another report from Living With Alcohol. It is called The Living With Alcohol Household Survey, and it will show once again the excellent work the Living With Alcohol program is doing and the positive effects it is having on harmful drinking rates in the Northern Territory - something that 'Dr' Toyne, the member for Stuart, may wish to acknowledge next time he puts out a press release, saying that it is time the Territory government took action to combat alcohol abuse and asking why action is still awaited. The action has been ongoing for some time.
The figures that I shall release today speak for themselves. Harmful consumption has decreased. Prior to the introduction of Living With Alcohol in 1992, 76% of Territory males and 49% of females were consuming alcohol at harmful daily levels. In 1996, this had decreased to 50% of males and 33% of females, a reduction of about one-third for both genders. Light beer has become an acceptable beverage in the Northern Territory, taking 28% of
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the beer market in the Territory compared to about 18% interstate. Additionally, prior to the Living With Alcohol program, alcohol was involved - and these are telling figures - in 62% of fatal road accidents. The latest figures, for 1997-98, have alcohol involved in 38%.
In light of those figures, it is interesting to read the latest household survey. I hope all honourable members will take the time to acquaint themselves with the figures. The survey was done over about 6 weeks last year and it involved 1582 face-to-face interviews with Territory residents aged 18 years and over in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy. Some of the findings were: 61% were regular drinkers, having drunk the previous week; on average people drank alcohol 3 days a week, although 17% drank daily; and beer accounted for 75% of male consumption while wine made up half the consumption of females. A comparison of surveys, however, from 1992 to 1997, would show that the number of males consistently drinking at responsible levels throughout the week increased from 11% to 34%. The proportion of females doing the same remained constant at around one-third. The number of regular male drinkers decreased from 78% to 69% and the number of regular female drinkers decreased from 58% to 52%. The number of males drinking at hazardous and harmful levels dropped from 30% to 22% and, among females, there was a drop from 12% to 10%. Other interesting aspects of the survey are: 62% agreed that alcohol is too often associated with sporting and recreational activities in the Northern Territory; only 14% regarded under-age drinking as acceptable; and 69% disagreed that, if people are not driving, then it does not matter how much they drink.
The results show that, while change is occurring, it is occurring gradually. Certainly, it is occurring in a positive direction. All is not rosy, but clearly much has been done - not the 'nothing has been done' that we hear from 'Dr' Toyne. I hope all members will join me in commending the hard work of the Living With Alcohol program officers and other government agencies for these results.
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ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be releasing another report from Living With Alcohol. It is called The Living With Alcohol Household Survey, and it will show once again the excellent work the Living With Alcohol program is doing and the positive effects it is having on harmful drinking rates in the Northern Territory - something that 'Dr' Toyne, the member for Stuart, may wish to acknowledge next time he puts out a press release, saying that it is time the Territory government took action to combat alcohol abuse and asking why action is still awaited. The action has been ongoing for some time.
The figures that I shall release today speak for themselves. Harmful consumption has decreased. Prior to the introduction of Living With Alcohol in 1992, 76% of Territory males and 49% of females were consuming alcohol at harmful daily levels. In 1996, this had decreased to 50% of males and 33% of females, a reduction of about one-third for both genders. Light beer has become an acceptable beverage in the Northern Territory, taking 28% of
Page 201
the beer market in the Territory compared to about 18% interstate. Additionally, prior to the Living With Alcohol program, alcohol was involved - and these are telling figures - in 62% of fatal road accidents. The latest figures, for 1997-98, have alcohol involved in 38%.
In light of those figures, it is interesting to read the latest household survey. I hope all honourable members will take the time to acquaint themselves with the figures. The survey was done over about 6 weeks last year and it involved 1582 face-to-face interviews with Territory residents aged 18 years and over in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy. Some of the findings were: 61% were regular drinkers, having drunk the previous week; on average people drank alcohol 3 days a week, although 17% drank daily; and beer accounted for 75% of male consumption while wine made up half the consumption of females. A comparison of surveys, however, from 1992 to 1997, would show that the number of males consistently drinking at responsible levels throughout the week increased from 11% to 34%. The proportion of females doing the same remained constant at around one-third. The number of regular male drinkers decreased from 78% to 69% and the number of regular female drinkers decreased from 58% to 52%. The number of males drinking at hazardous and harmful levels dropped from 30% to 22% and, among females, there was a drop from 12% to 10%. Other interesting aspects of the survey are: 62% agreed that alcohol is too often associated with sporting and recreational activities in the Northern Territory; only 14% regarded under-age drinking as acceptable; and 69% disagreed that, if people are not driving, then it does not matter how much they drink.
The results show that, while change is occurring, it is occurring gradually. Certainly, it is occurring in a positive direction. All is not rosy, but clearly much has been done - not the 'nothing has been done' that we hear from 'Dr' Toyne. I hope all members will join me in commending the hard work of the Living With Alcohol program officers and other government agencies for these results.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016