The Hon Kevin Humphries MP, NSW Minister for Mental Health - FARE

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We know that Australia has some of the highest rates of risky drinking in the world.
Some alarming statistics relating to risk drinking were reported in the 2010
National Drug Strategy Household Survey, which found that:
one in five people drink alcohol at a level that puts them at risk of harm or
injury over their lifetime – one of the highest rates in the world;
at least once a week, about one in six people put themselves at risk of an
alcohol-related injury from a single occasion of drinking;
at least once a month, about two thirds of 18-19 year old males, and more
than half of 20-29 year old males, put themselves at risk of alcohol related
injury.
In Australia, drinking too much on a single occasion …binge drinking …is by far
the most common type of excessive drinking, and the consequences are all too
visible on Friday and Saturday nights in communities throughout NSW. They
range from the serious – the street brawls, the hospital ED admissions, the
assaults …to the threatening – the verbal abuse and intimidating behaviour of
intoxicated individuals and groups.
The NSW Government is well aware of the harmful effects of alcohol misuse and
is committed to taking action that will reduce these effects, with one of the goals of
the 2012 NSW Plan to reduce total risk drinking by 25 per cent across the State by
2015. But there are two caveats here: firstly, good solutions cannot be
devised independently of communities – whether the solutions are legislative
or local-action, community support is a vital ingredient. Secondly, the solutions
must be informed by evidence …put simply, solutions need to demonstrate that
they provide bang for the buck.
Those caveats are why I am so pleased to launch the results of the Alcohol Action
in Rural Communities project here today. This world leading researchclearly
shows that communities can work effectively with their local government,
health services, police, schools and a range of key stakeholders to devise