The Government is trying many different ways to change the attitudes of Australians in regards to Alcohol. First the increase in the price of "alco-pops" to curb binge drinking. The "2am Lock-Out" to decrease alcohol fuelled violence and now to the introduction of a campaign that aims to change the idea of 'drinking to get drunk' and ultimately make 'getting drunk' socially unacceptable. The idea is that children gain most of their knowledge in regards to 'getting drunk' from seeing their parents or relatives 'get drunk'. Advertisements and a live webpage together with a program of initiatives conducted by Drinkwise will to tackle Australia's drinking culture and encourage responsible consumption of alcohol.

The idea is that children gain most of their knowledge in regards to 'getting drunk' from seeing their parents and close friends or relatives 'get drunk'. Advertisements and a live webpage together with a program of initiatives conducted by Drinkwise will begin to tackle Australia's drinking culture and encourage responsible consumption of alcohol.

Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd claims that binge drinking has reached an epidemic, so alongside the Federal Government increased the price of "alco-pops", pre-mixed alcohol to curb this epidemic. Research shows that 54% of males and 44% of females over the age of 14 have drunk at extremely high and risky levels at least once in the past 12 months. Other studies have shown that many teenagers can't taste the alcohol in "alco-pops" as it is masked with brightly coloured flavours. The price increase didn't actually curb the binge drinking problem, although "alco-pops" sales did decrease, there was a strong increase of spirits and low-priced wine.

The 2am lockout was introduced as the Victorian Government saw that most of the violence on the streets happened after 2am and was alcohol-fuelled-violence. The lockout means that many inner-city nightclubs and bars cannot let patrons enter or re-enter their facility between the hours of 2am and 7pm, this aimed for the vibrant Melbourne city life to be re-established.

The latest implemented scheme is to help produce the idea that 'getting drunk' is socially unacceptable, the aim is that parents will not 'drink to get drunk' especially in front of their children or around children. Studies have shown that parents modeling plays a key influence on the drinking patterns of adolescents. Dr John Irvine says that "if you want to teach your children to be responsible with alcohol when they are older be a responsible drink yourself. As parents, we actually have more influence on our children than anyone or anything else." Drinkwise along with the Australian Government have began to tackle the idea of parents educating their children through their choices and encourage responsible consumption of alcohol through advertising and a website drinkwise.

Will any of these work? What do you think will work? Have you got an idea for the alcohol epidemic? Are you happy about the recent changes in regards to the pricing of pre-mixed-alcohol or the 2am lockout?

Other pages of Interest: Foetal Alcohol Syndrome or The 2am Lockout or Could you give up Alcohol for a week? 

Posted by Brooke at 15:33 in Food and Beverages All new comments are subject to moderation before being displayed.