16th February, 2007
A third of 18 to 24-year-old Australians describe themselves as “binge” drinkers and two in three say they have friends who regularly drink excessively, according research commissioned by the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation (AER).

The research - which was conducted by Qantum Market Research and published this week - found that 37 per cent of young women and 30 per cent of young men considered themselves to be binge drinkers. But it also found that one in three 18 to 24-year-olds who consume more than 10 drinks on a typical occasion did not believe they were a binge drinker.

Forty per cent of those surveyed said they had passed out on one occasion when drinking to excess while four per cent said they have done so more than 20 times.

Two thirds of those surveyed said they were more likely to have a one-night stand when drunk but 60 per cent said they would not date a binge drinker and 68 per cent said they would not marry such a person.

AER will kick off a new national campaign targeting the issue on 14th April with a daytime event called “Fresh Party”.

~ www.aerf.com.au
~ www.freshparty.com.au

- DAVID ADAMS