I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has worked with me over this time to help DrinkWise successfully promote change towards a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia.

I’m proud of what we have achieved.  It has been a privilege to lead an organisation that has made a genuine contribution towards affecting generational change, in particular through our campaigns ‘Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix’ and ‘Kids Absorb Your Drinking’.

We’ve also played a key role in the introduction of consumer information messages on alcohol products, and in educating prospective parents about alcohol and pregnancy including providing resources, for the first time, through medical clinics.

At crucial times in the social debate we have successfully brought together experienced leaders across government, industry and health to achieve positive outcomes for the Australian public.

I wish DrinkWise all the best for the future, and I thank all those who have provided support.

DrinkWise Chair, the Hon Trish Worth, said a recent survey showed that more people recognised issues around alcohol misuse compared with five years ago, and were heeding messages such as not drinking when pregnant, or acting responsibly around children.  However there was an increased perception that they were ‘still in control’ even after they had a lot to drink.

“Our benchmarking study shows signs of cultural change in people’s attitudes towards drinking,” Ms Worth said.

“There’s a clear trend that more people recognise the issue of problem drinking in society than 5 years ago, with 66 per cent of respondents now indicating a concern that their drinking can have a negative effect on them and people around them (up 5 per cent) and 77 per cent believing our society has a drinking problem (up 7 per cent).

“Significantly more people also believe there should be stricter enforcement for being drunk and disorderly in public (84 per cent – up 10 per cent).

“We’re also moderating our drinking habits, with only 10 per cent of respondents indicating they consume alcohol at least 5 days a week, compared with 21 per cent in 2007.”

Ms Worth said more respondents believe pregnant women should not drink alcohol (88 per cent – up 4 per cent) and that it’s important to drink sensibly around those who are underage (93 per cent – up 5 per cent).

“Both of these issues have been the subject of DrinkWise’s recent education campaigns encouraging responsible drinking, so we’re encouraged that these important messages are getting through to the public,” Ms Worth said.

“On the flip side, there has been a worrying increase in the number of people who believe it’s OK to supply alcohol to people under the age of 18 (15 per cent – up 3 per cent) or who believe they’re still in control even after they’ve had a lot to drink (41 per cent – up 7 per cent).

“Shifting cultural attitudes requires generational change. This research shows that, while there have been some positive gains, there are still deeper underlying attitudes that require further efforts to achieve a long term cultural shift.”

DrinkWise Australia has adopted a long-term approach towards generational change in the way people drink through the development of national information and education campaigns that inform and support the community to change this culture.

The initiatives seek to make a cultural change in the way Australians approach drinking, and to foster a more responsible drinking culture and ultimately a safer and healthier community.

DrinkWise Australia is a not-for-profit social change organisation dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia. It does this through national information and education campaigns, partnerships with community leaders and organisations, and the development of practical strategies and resources that better support the community in relation to alcohol use and misuse.

Download: media release (PDF: 96k)

DrinkWise Chair, the Hon Trish Worth, said the organisation had been seeking to educate parents in its current advertising campaign to remind them that ‘kids absorb their drinking’.

“Our research shows that children and teenagers look up to their parents as role models more than most parents might think.  They observe parents’ behavior and this can have a significant bearing on how they view the consumption of alcohol later in life,” Ms Worth said.

“Children stay up later on New Year’s Eve to celebrate with their family, so our message to parents is to enjoy yourself, but remember that your kids are watching and observing your behaviour. Your actions can have an impact on how your children view the consumption of alcohol as they grow older.”

The call follows the recent release of the latest Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol and Drug (ASSAD) survey that shows the prevalence of drinking by minors (12-17 year olds) has fallen in recent years, but that more needs to be done to educate children about the effects of alcohol consumption.

“The latest research is encouraging, with the number of 12-17 year olds who had consumed alcohol in the past seven days reducing from 28.6 per cent in 2005 to 17.4 per cent in 2011,” Ms Worth said.

“Significantly, alcohol consumption by younger adolescents (12-15 years old) had nearly halved over the same period.

“However, alarmingly of 12-17 year olds who are drinking, more than a third (36.4 per cent) indicate their intention is to get drunk most times or every time they consume alcohol.  Clearly there is more work to be done, particularly in educating young people about the dangers of drinking at risky levels.”

The ASSAD survey also showed that of the 12-17 year olds who had consumed an alcohol drink, a third (32.9 per cent) had been supplied alcohol by their parents, again highlighting the role that parents play in creating their children’s perception of alcohol.

DrinkWise Australia has adopted a long-term approach towards generational change in the way people drink through the development of national information and education campaigns that inform and support the community to change this culture.

The initiatives seek to make a cultural change in the way Australians approach drinking, and to foster a more responsible drinking culture and ultimately a safer and healthier community.

DrinkWise Australia is a not-for-profit social change organisation dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia. It does this through national information and education campaigns, partnerships with community leaders and organisations, and the development of practical strategies and resources that better support the community in relation to alcohol use and misuse.

Media contact: Mark Williams on 0401 147 558.

Download: media release (PDF: 97k)

Download: ASSAD 2011 Report (PDF: 1.25MB)

The Hon. Trish Worth, Chair of the Board of DrinkWise Australia, said the initiative, to be held across Australia from 7-9 December, would send a clear message to the community of the risks of excessive alcohol consumption.

“While most Australians consume alcohol in moderation without causing any harm to others, there is a worrying trend towards ‘drinking to get drunk’,” Ms Worth said.

“Excessive drinking can put people at risk. We urge the community to consider the serious consequences they could face by drinking excessively, long after the night is over.

“When drinking too much, the ability to make decisions is impaired and situations can quickly get out of control through crime, violence and anti-social behaviour.”

Ms Worth said police, emergency services and health department resources were often stretched to the limit in dealing with the after-effects of drunken violence.

“This year across Australia, we’ve seen a number of tragic alcohol fuelled incidents with violent crime and fights which have caused serious injuries and sadly, in some cases, fatalities,” she said.

“Unfortunately, the age that kids are starting to drink is getting younger. The average age at which young people now start drinking is 15.5 years and more than a quarter of our 14-19 year olds are putting themselves at risk of alcohol-related harm at least once a month. These are disturbing statistics which need to be turned around.”

DrinkWise Australia has adopted a long-term approach towards generational change in the way people drink through the development of national information and education campaigns that inform and support the community to change this culture.

“We take a whole of community view drawing on partnerships between government, industry and the community, as we consider this will have the greatest impact,” Ms Worth said.

“This initiative is about educating the community that we can all play a part. We need to make a cultural change in the way we approach drinking and work together to foster a more responsible drinking culture and ultimately a safer and healthier community.

“During Operation Unite and beyond, DrinkWise Australia encourages people who are worried about alcohol misuse to visit our website to get the facts and to see what role they can play in achieving the shift to a healthier and more responsible drinking culture in Australia.”

DrinkWise Australia is a not-for-profit social change organisation dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia. It does this through national information and education campaigns, partnerships with community leaders and organisations, and the development of practical strategies and resources that better support the community in relation to alcohol use and misuse.

Media contact: Mark Williams on 0401 147 558.

Download: media release (PDF: 94k)

DrinkWise Chair, Hon. Trish Worth, said parents whose children are attending Schoolies Week events should be mindful of their responsibilities.

“Parents need to be aware of the different laws in place across Australia and the penalties involved in supplying alcohol to minors,” Ms Worth said.

“We urge parents to think about the dangerous consequences they could face by supplying alcohol to their children. This is especially true in unsupervised environments such as Schoolies Week where tragic alcohol-fuelled incidents have become all too frequent.

“Not only are there immediate risks of excessive drinking to consider such as fights, injuries, drink driving and unwanted sexual encounters, but there are also longer term risks given that adolescents’ brains are still developing and continue to develop into their early to mid-20s.

“These longer term risks associated with excessive drinking at a young age include learning difficulties, memory problems, poor decision making, depression and anxiety.

“Further information and expert advice about these risks is available on the DrinkWise website at drinkwise.org.au where parents can also find some useful tips to help them manage this challenging issue with their kids.”

The Schoolies Week warning from DrinkWise supports the organisation’s Kids Absorb Your Drinking message, which continues to raise awareness about underage drinking and how parents – through their own attitudes and behaviour – have the power to positively influence their children’s attitude towards drinking from an early age.

Ms Worth said DrinkWise also endorses the industry-driven “Don’t buy it for them” campaign aimed at making adults aware of their responsibilities regarding the secondary supply of alcohol.

Significantly, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Drug Strategy Household Survey for 2010 showed a major reduction in the proportion of parents that regularly buy alcohol for minors. For parents of 12-15-year-olds the figure decreased from 43.1% in 2007 to 30.4% in 2010, while for parents of 16-17-year-olds the figure dropped from 34.3% to 23.3% in the corresponding period¹.

“It is important for parents to feel empowered to refuse their children if they ask them to buy them alcohol,” Ms Worth said.

“These statistics are encouraging and we’d like to see further reductions in the next report. Our own campaigns and others that draw attention to these issues are certainly helping achieve the shift to a safer and healthier drinking culture in Australia.”

DrinkWise Australia is a not-for-profit social change organisation dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia. It does this through national information and education campaigns, partnerships with community leaders and organisations, and the development of practical strategies and resources that better support the community in relation to alcohol use and misuse.

Media contact: Kieran Hall on 0422 147 151.

Download: Media release (PDF: 99k)

In a joint initiative between the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing and DrinkWise Australia launched today, major liquor retailers will include educational literature with alcohol purchases to increase consumer awareness and understanding on the risks of women drinking alcohol while pregnant

Participating retailers include Aldi, BWS, Cellarbrations, Dan Murphy’s, First Choice, IGA Liquor, Liquorland, The Bottle-O, Thirsty Camel, Woolworths Liquor and Vintage Cellars.

DrinkWise Australia Chair, Hon. Trish Worth, thanked the retailers for their participation in the initiative and said the message was an important one as it helped answer the question around consumption of alcohol for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

“There is much confusion about alcohol and pregnancy.  Medical experts don’t actually know what is the lowest possible level of alcohol that can be drunk safely, so their advice is the safest possible thing that women can do is to not drink alcohol at all during pregnancy or while they are breastfeeding.

Ms Worth said that information about alcohol and breastfeeding was especially important as research showed confusion around this topic.  She also explained that while the brochure was relevant to women, men should also take time to read the information.

“Males are a key provider of support and influence to their partner.  By knowing the facts about pregnancy and alcohol, men can help their partner make a decision not to drink and provide them with support before and during a pregnancy and while breastfeeding. “

This initiative follows the DrinkWise launch last year of information messages to appear on the labels of alcohol products in Australia and a partnership with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to promote the risks of alcohol and pregnancy.

“DrinkWise and the liquor retailers recognise that labelling alone is not enough, which is why education around these issues is so important,” said Ms Worth.  “Practical resources such as this brochure will provide further information to the community and help couples make an informed choice.”

The brochure encourages consumers to get the facts from the DrinkWise website www.drinkwise.org.au/pregnancy which provides expert advice from Professor Alec Welsh, Head of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney and a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

ENDS

DrinkWise Australia is a not-for-profit social change organisation dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia. It does this through national information and education campaigns, partnerships with community leaders and organisations, and the development of practical strategies and resources that better support the community in relation to alcohol use and misuse.

Media contact:    Cathy Palfreyman – 0438 001 086 

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

Trish Worth, Chair, DrinkWise Australia

 Download media release (PDF)

In a joint initiative between the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing and DrinkWise Australia launched today, major liquor retailers will include educational literature with alcohol purchases to increase consumer awareness and understanding about the risks of women drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Participating retailers include Aldi, BWS, Cellarbrations, Dan Murphy’s, First Choice, IGA Liquor, Liquorland, The Bottle-O, Thirsty Camel, Woolworths Liquor and Vintage Cellars.

DrinkWise Australia Chair Hon. Trish Worth thanked the retailers for their participation in the initiative and encouraged other liquor retailers to get involved.

“It’s important the alcohol industry backs this education program,” she said.  “Labelling alone is not enough.   Practical resources such as this brochure provide further information to the community and will help couples make an informed choice around consumption of alcohol for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Ms Worth said there was much confusion about alcohol and pregnancy.  “Medical experts don’t actually know what is the lowest level of alcohol that can be drunk safely, so their advice is that it’s safest women don’t drink alcohol at all during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.”

Ms Worth explained that while the brochure was relevant to women, men should also take time to read the information.

“Males are a key provider of support and influence to their partner.  By knowing the facts about pregnancy and alcohol, men can help their partner make a decision not to drink and provide them with support before and during a pregnancy and while breastfeeding.”

The brochure is DrinkWise’s latest education intitative, following the launch last year of information messages to appear on the labels of alcohol products in Australia and a partnership with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to promote the risks of alcohol and pregnancy.

Consumers can get more facts about alcohol and pregnancy from the DrinkWise website www.drinkwise.org.au/pregnancy which provides expert advice from Professor Alec Welsh, Head of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney and a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Retailers can contact DrinkWise on 02 6162 4132 or via info@drinkwise.org.au to order a supply of the free brochures for their in-store use.

ENDS

DrinkWise Australia is a not-for-profit social change organisation dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia. It does this through national information and education campaigns, partnerships with community leaders and organisations, and the development of practical strategies and resources that better support the community in relation to alcohol use and misuse.

Media contact:    Cathy Palfreyman – 0438 001 086 

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

Trish Worth, Chair, DrinkWise Australia

Download media release (PDF)

DrinkWise Australia has launched a new web portal, with the support of the Winemakers Federation of Australia, to give winemakers direct access to print-ready labelling messages.

In addition to encouraging consumers to ‘Get the Facts’ from the DrinkWise website, the labelling materials also provide a choice of alcohol and pregnancy messages – ‘It is Safest Not to Drink While Pregnant’ or the internationally recognised pictogram conveying the same message.

DrinkWise Chair, Hon. Trish Worth, said the aim was to simplify the process for the industry to have access to these important consumer messages and to be able to print them on product labels as soon as practicable.

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for winemakers to incorporate consumer information messages on their products,” Ms Worth said.

“DrinkWise and the Winemakers Federation of Australia decided the right thing to do was to set up the web portal and make these materials available, free of charge.

“Australia’s major alcohol producers, who are members of DrinkWise and who sell 80% by volume of all alcohol sold in Australia, are well advanced in adopting this important consumer information labelling.

“Now we’re looking to get the rest of the industry on board. There are roughly 2,000 winemakers around Australia, some of whom may not have the resources of the bigger producers to change their labelling, so we’re doing whatever we can to help them.”

Ms Worth said DrinkWise was currently working with Government and retailers to see point of sale educational material available to support the labelling messages. Wine makers will also be encouraged to make this information on pregnancy & alcohol consumption available at cellar doors.

“This is one of several initiatives and campaigns undertaken by DrinkWise to educate the public on responsible drinking,” she said.

“Our consumer information messages encourage consumers to ‘Get the Facts’ from the DrinkWise website, which provides evidence based information on alcohol that will support the community in taking a healthier and safer approach to alcohol consumption.

“DrinkWise also recently announced a new partnership with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists as part of an education campaign with GP’s and health professionals to provide practical information to parents to be.”

DrinkWise Australia is a not-for-profit social change organisation dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia. It does this through national information and education campaigns, partnerships with community leaders and organisations, and the development of practical strategies and resources that better support the community in relation to alcohol use and misuse.

Media contact: Mark Williams on 0401 147 558.

Download PDF

The announcement saw the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler pledge more than $1 million towards projects that raise awareness of the risks of harmful drinking – particularly during pregnancy.

DrinkWise Australia Chair, Hon. Trish Worth, thanked the Federal Government and said that the funding will support DrinkWise‟s work with industry to develop „point of sale‟ education materials for consumers where alcohol is sold.

“We are pleased to be recognised by the Federal Government for our ongoing role in pregnancy and alcohol education,” said Ms Worth.

“DrinkWise recently announced a new partnership with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists as part of an education campaign with GP‟s and health professionals to provide practical information to parents to be.”

Last year, DrinkWise launched new consumer information messages for alcohol products labelling in Australia. These include the message „It is Safest Not to Drink While Pregnant‟ in addition to encouraging consumers to „Get the Facts‟ from the DrinkWise website.

“The new funding will allow us to continue getting the important message to parents to be that it‟s safest not to drink while pregnant,” Ms Worth said.

DrinkWise Australia is a not-for-profit social change organisation dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer drinking culture in Australia. It does this through national information and education campaigns, partnerships with community leaders and organisations, and the development of practical strategies and resources that better support the community in relation to alcohol use and misuse.

Media contact: Mark Williams on 0401 147 558.

Download PDF: DrinkWise Australia media release – DrinkWise receives funding for alcohol and pregnancy education initiatives.