It's official – RTDs favoured by binge drinkers

The alcohol industry maintains there is no evidence that pre-mixed spirits contribute to dangerous drinking (1). But last week, CAAN gained access to unpublished data that proves underage drinkers who risk immediate harm consume RTDs as much as any other beverage.

Go to CAAN's website to download a copy of "Type of alcohol consumed, recent drinkers, by short term risk status, 2004."

This data was collected by the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare for the 2004 National Household Drug Strategy Survey (NDSHS). It shows that 73% of males aged 14-19 who drink at "risky and high risk" levels for short term harm drink RTDs, as do 77% of "risky and high risk" females. This means that teenage binge drinkers commonly drink RTDs.

Unfortunately, this short term risk data was not published earlier. It is crucial information for policy makers, health workers, researchers and the public. Its lack allowed the alcohol industry to mislead everyone.

End the spin
Originally the report of the 2004 NDSHS published data only on the drink preferences of "long-term risk drinkers" - and focused on the first beverage nominated by them, which was not RTDs (2). This allowed the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia to claim RTDs are not implicated in harmful drinking. But the AIHW has informed CAAN if other beverages were listed, RTDs would follow closely (3). AIHW said drink choices of drinkers at short-term risk and long-term risk do not much differ, and that that would be obvious were the full list of beverages nominated by long-term harmful drinkers published. We hope they will be next time.

Yet on Saturday, The Age reported DSICA saying people at long-term risk do not drink RTDs (4). That is wrong and DSICA knows it now. DSICA must stop repeating that untruth.

(1) G Broderick, "Teen Boozing", The Mercury 27 Aug, p14.
(2) AIHW, 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, Detailed Findings (2005), p28.
(3) Mark Cooper-Stainsbury, personal communication.
(4) "Pre-mixed spirits favoured by binge-drink teens", The Age, 15 Sept p.3.

Geoff Munro, Director, CAAN

Time to act

Mat Baxter, executive of Naked Communications and advertiser of Absolut Vodka, admitted that RTDs target young people with spirits and sweet mixers (GrogWatch 06/08/07). Ads in trade journals boast that pre-mixed spirits is the major growth sector of the entire alcohol market (National Liquor News, September 2007).

Given the proof that underage binge drinkers risk their safety and well being drinking pre-mixed spirits, will RTD producers continue to:
• market RTDs to young people?
• super-size the RTD alcohol content?
• blame parents for underage drinking?

CAAN thinks its time to
• cap the alcohol content of RTDs at 5%
• increase the tax rate of super-strength RTDs
• end public advertising and marketing of RTDs

These measures will not interfere with availability of the products or adult choices to drink, but will help to reduce unsafe drinking by young people.

Geoff Munro, Director, CAAN

A round up of alcohol news

Carpenter rejects MP inquiry for Fitzroy

Alan Carpenter has refused to back growing calls from concerned residents of Fitzroy Crossing for a parliamentary inquiry into the social issues confronting their alcohol-ravaged town, saying he did not believe politicians "crawling all over it for political purposes" would help.
West Australian, p. 1, 11 September 07

Alcohol, drugs spur crime rise

Violent crime has escalated by 9 per cent in Knox. And police are largely putting the blame on substance abuse.
Knox Leader, p. 7, 11 September 07

Liquor forum

The Mornington Peninsula Council and the Good Sports organisation will hold a free liquor licensing forum for sporting clubs at the Dromana Bowling Club,
Mornington Peninsula Leader, p.3, 11 September 07

Fears over bottle shop

Drunks will be drawn to a controversial new discount bottle shop, senior figures at an alcohol rehabilitation centre in Reservoir warn.
Preston Leader, p.5, 12 September 07

Reaching out

Young people in Geelong will have better access to drug and alcohol treatment, thanks to an award-winning outreach program coming to the region.
Geelong Advertiser, p.8, 13 September 07

Booze permit freeze call

Health groups have demanded a freeze on late-night liquor licences as figures show Victoria has one liquor licence for every five youths.
Herald Sun, p.9, 14 September 07

Teenage binge drinking linked to ‘lolly water' sales: Alcohol worries

Alcohol companies need to take responsibility for the impact 'lolly water' drinks are having on teenagers, a leading alcohol awareness campaigner has told a Portland forum.
Warrnambool Standard, p.7, 14 September 07

Licence to booze

The growth in the number of liquor licences in Victoria is little short of frightening.
Herald Sun, p.96, 15 September 07

Pre-mixed spirits favoured by binge-drink teens

The alcohol industry has long denied it but new figures prove that teenagers at high risk of injury or death through binge drinking prefer pre-mixed "alco-pops" over other drinks.
The Age, p.3, 15 September 07

Through a glass darkly

Medical experts are claiming our nations youth are drinking ever younger and at dangerous levels.
Daily Telegraph, p.98, 15 September 07

Lift drinking age to 21

The drinking age should be raised from 18 to 21 to curb binge drinking by alco-pop-guzzling teenagers.
Daily Telegraph, p.17, 15 September 07

Higher drinking age hasn't worked in US

I am an Australia living in the US for a year. This is a country where the legal age for drinking is 21.
Daily Telegraph, p.20, 17 September 07

Remove the fix from the family

I was reared by an alcoholic sole parent, so I read the article "Take children from addicts, inquiry urges" with keen interest.
The Age, p.10, 17 September 07

Blame booze

Increasing sentences will not stop parents losing their beautiful children to alcohol-fuelled violence, it will simply fill the prison as quickly as the cemetery.
West Australian, p.22, 17 September 07