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Health Promotion students from The University of Western Australia aim to reduce binge drinking at the University and increase knowledge of the negative health effects of excessive alcohol consumption.

The Student Alcohol Program will work with UWA's Health Promotion Unit to raise awareness of the University's Tertiary Alcohol Project and an on-line questionnaire evaluating risky drinking behaviors. Their efforts will culminate in the University's annual Health Day to be held on Tuesday April 28 on the UWA Oak Lawn and at the UWA Tavern.

Getting drunk is increasingly accepted as a ‘normal' part of the Australian drinking culture and alcohol is a major drug of concern in the community. National Health Surveys have shown that the proportion of people drinking at a risky level has increased from 8.2 per cent in 1995 to 13.4 per cent in 2004-05 (ABS 2006).

Road injury, suicide and assault are the most common causes of alcohol-attributable death for young people aged 18 to 24. Research also indicates that university students have the riskiest drinking patterns with almost two-thirds drinking at risky or high-risk levels for short-term harm (National Binge Drinking Campaign).

The students hope their activities will raise awareness on campus about the risks of binge drinking as well as collecting information about student drinking patterns.

Media references

Student Alcohol Program spokeswomen:
Ellie Newman  (+61 4) 01 134 034
Sarah D'Andrea  (+61 4) 03 764 453
Dr Colleen Fisher (UWA School of Population Health) (+61 8) 6488 2193
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716