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Patterns of alcohol consumptionThe National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian AlcoholGuidelines (2001) outlines drinking patterns associated with risk of alcohol relatedharm. The low risk level defines a level of drinking at which there is only minimalrisk of harm and, for some, the likelihood of health benefits. The risky levels arethose at which risk of harm is significantly increased beyond any possible benefits.High risk drinking levels are those at which there is substantial risk of serious harm,and above which risk continues to increase rapidly.Data on the relative risk levels of alcohol consumption are sourced from the ABS2004-05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)and the 2004-05 National Health Survey (NHS). The two surveys collected data ona person’s average daily alcohol consumption in the seven days prior to theinterview and then grouped them into relative risk levels as defined by the NHMRC(2001) (table 8.1.1).Table 8.1.1Average daily alcohol consumption and associated risk levelsMalesFemalesNo. of standarddrinks aVolume ofalcohol (ml)No. of standarddrinks aVolume ofalcohol (ml)Risk of short term harmLow risk Up to 6 75Risk of long term harmLow risk Up to 4 50a A standard drink is defined as a full serve of alcoholic beverages containing 10 grams of alcohol, equivalentto 12.5 millilitres (ml) of alcohol. For example, a 375 ml can/bottle of mid-strength beer, or a 100 ml glass ofwine. All alcoholic beverage containers, by law, state on the label the number of standard drinks they contain.Source: NHMRC (2001); ABS (2006).Short term risk is the risk of harm in the short term associated with given levels ofalcohol consumption on any one occasion. Long term risk is associated with regulardaily patterns of alcohol consumption and defined by the average daily intake ofalcohol over the seven days of the reference week. Both short term and long termalcohol misuse can cause harms including illnesses, injuries and deaths. The lastsection of this indicator, ‘Alcohol related hospitalisations and deaths’, discussesharms associated with alcohol consumption at short and long term risk levels.8.6 OVERCOMINGINDIGENOUSDISADVANTAGE 2007