Binge drinking presents a significant social problem among Australian youth. A 1998 Australian (Federal) Dept of Health and Aged Care study found that one in five 15-17 year old drinkers consumed the equivalent of 10 or more standard drinks the last time they drank alcohol, and that the main aim of drinkers in this age group was "to get drunk, and to get drunk quickly." In the same year the National Drug Research Institute found that binge drinking among 14-17 year olds was evenly divided among boys and girls: some 44% of 14-17 year old girls engage in binge drinking once a month compared to 41% of boys.
The consequences can be very damaging. Too much alcohol can result in hospitalisation and even death. Nathan Bawden, a 19 year old West Australian apprentice died after a drinking game in February 1999. He had consumed vodka from a 750ml bottle as well as 83 glasses of a vodka based drink.
Binge drinking also induces violence. The Dept of Health study reported that 68% of teenagers had seen or been involved in violence as a result of excessive drinking during the previous 3 months. Over the same period 39% of females and 28% of males complained of unwanted sexual advances which they attributed to the drinking of others.
A very sad example is a 16 year old West Australian girl who attended Schoolies Week in 2000. One night she got so drunk a friend put her to bed. When the friend checked in on her later she discovered the girl's pyjamas had been ripped off. She had been sexually assaulted by two males, aged 18 and 19. They were convicted of this crime.
Source: Information reported by Readers Digest July 2001.
Applications: alcohol, drugs, teenagers, violence