rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

The legal age for alcohol purchases from all
outlets is 21 years. 533 The 2009 epidemiological
profile noted a lack of current data
for adult consumption, with the 2003 Ministry
of Health community health assessment
providing the most recent indicators of consumption
among this group. In this survey,
10 990 people or 80.4 per cent of the population
20 years or older were surveyed, with
3866 indicating they had consumed alcohol
in the previous 12 months and 24 per cent
reporting they consumed alcohol one to four
days a week. In addition, 51.7 per cent of
the respondents having consumed alcohol
reported having five or more drinks when
they drink. Also important was 5 per cent
of respondents reporting having 20 drinks
or more on days when they drank. 534 Other
sources of information include the Ministry
of Finance Bureau of Revenue, Customs and
Taxation report which estimated more than
500 standard drinks (beer, wine and spirits)
imported to Palau annually per adult 21
years or older. 535
The 2005 YBRS found that, among students
from grades 9–12, 62 per cent had tried
alcohol, most commencing at 13 years of
age and often exhibiting a pattern of binge
drinking. 536 In a comparison of youth alcohol
consumption and binge drinking in 2003,
2005 and 2007, the most recent epidemiological
profile notes declines in each category
with reported current drinking dropping from
51 per cent (2003) to 36 per cent (2007),
and bingeing similarly decreasing from 34
per cent (2003) to 24 per cent (2007). 537
As this is a school-based survey, most atrisk
youth populations are not represented
and therefore consumption and binge rates
are potentially much higher for those falling
into the youth age bracket.
Betel
In the 2007 YRBS more than half (58 per
cent) of high school students surveyed reported
having chewed betel one or more
times in the previous 30 days. This rate of
use was similar to that in 2005 but a decline
since 2001 and 2003. The profile also noted
that betel is often chewed with tobacco and,
since 2005, chewing rates are higher among
females than among males. This will be explored
further in the third youth tobacco
survey, planned for 2009. 538
111
533 World Health Organization, Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004. Geneva: WHO. Available
at: (accessed October 2008).
534 Above, fn.509; a binge was defined as five drinks or more for the survey undertaken by the
Ministry of Health in 2003.
535 Ibid.; standard drinks are listed as 12oz bottles/cans.
536 Above, fn.493.
537 Above, fn.509.
538 Ibid.
Palau