Community needs to work together to prevent irresponsible drinking

Police Commissioners across Australia and New Zealand made a combined statement today about alcohol-related violence in and around entertainment precincts. Police recognise that people want to enjoy themselves and are urgently calling on the community to help manage and encourage people to drink responsibly.[1]

Irresponsible drinking is a community-wide problem. It demands a response that emphasises the need for people to take greater personal responsibility, not only for their own behaviour, but that of their friends and colleagues.

Spokesperson for Operation Unite, Commissioner Andrew Scipione says the acceptance of excessive drinking as normal in our culture is partly to blame.

“We can no longer just focus on the drunken person causing mischief. The adverse effects of alcohol impact everybody. The responsibility is on the community to influence friends, families and work colleagues about a healthy and acceptable level of alcohol consumption,” says Mr Scipione.

There is a cultural acceptance of drinking to excess in Australia and New Zealand. Police, paramedics and emergency services directly face the damaging effects our casual approach to drinking has on the individual and our communities.

“81 per cent of Australians believed that alcohol misuse and antisocial behaviour is a problem in their state. [2] We are asking the community to take action and know when enough is enough. By looking out for each other when out drinking, you and your mates can make sure good times don’t turn bad.

“The community can no longer expect police to deal with the aftermath of people drinking irresponsibly – we are all in this together. We all have to take responsibility for our behaviour when we’re out drinking,” says Mr Scipione.

Professor Mike Daube, Chair of the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA) says: “Operation Unite is a stark reminder of the health and social problems alcohol causes around Australia. We welcome this initiative as a wake-up call to the community, and urge all sectors of the community to get behind the Police in their efforts to prevent needless deaths, injuries, violence and crime.”

“The NAAA is a national coalition of 45 health and community organisations across Australia, recently established with the goal of reducing alcohol-related harm. We strongly support the determination of Police authorities around the country to reduce the appalling and unnecessary toll of harmful drinking,” says Professor Daube.

1. Evidence shows that a high proportion of the alcohol consumed by both adolescent and young adult drinkers is at risky and high risk levels - National Binge Drinking Campaign, March 2008.

2. Australian Government Productivity Commission, 2008.
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