4105.0 - Children and Youth News, Aug 2006

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/08/2006

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Contents Welcome Latest Findings Recent Releases Upcoming Releases Non-ABS Research Children and Youth Themepage Contact Us About this release	LATEST FINDINGS NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY, 2004-05 Drinking Behaviours of Youth Aged 18-24 Years Recent data from the 2004-05 National Health Survey shows that 61% of youth aged 18-24 years consumed alcohol in the week prior to the interview. Males were more likely to consume alcohol than females, 65% compared with 56% respectively. The most popular alcoholic drinks for males were full strength beer (42%) followed by spirits/liqueurs (37%), wine (8%) and mid strength beer (5%), whereas the most popular for females were spirits/liqueurs (37%) followed by wine (19%), full strength beer (11%) and champagne/sparkling wine (6%). The National Health Survey 2004-05 also collected data on alcohol risk levels and binge drinking which are independent measures of drinking behaviours. Risk levels are based on those developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). High risk is defined as more than 75mls of pure alcohol per day for males, and more than 50mls per day for females. Risky is defined as more than 50-75mls per day for males, and more than 25-50mls per day for females. Results from the survey show that 14% (or 265,000) of young people aged 18-24 years consumed alcohol at risky or high risk levels in the week prior to interview. More youth were consuming at risky/high risk levels in 2004-05 than in previous surveys-11% in 2001 and 9% in 1995. Males were more likely to consume alcohol at risky or high risk levels than females, 15% compared with 13% respectively. PERCENTAGE OF YOUTH AGED 18-24 YEARS CONSUMING ALCOHOL AT RISKY OR HIGH RISK LEVELS Data on binge drinking was collected in the National Health Survey 2004-05 for the first time. Respondents were asked how often in the last 12 months they had consumed five or more standard drinks (for females) or seven or more standard drinks (for males) in a day. Males aged 18-24 years were more likely to report binge drinking in the previous year than females of the same age, 68% compared with 58% respectively. Males were more likely to report binge drinking at least once per week than females, 19% compared to 11% respectively. For further information and analyses of the National Health Survey 2004-05 see National Health Survey: Summary of Results, 2004-05 (cat. no. 4364.0). AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL TRENDS The Australian Social Trends, 2006 publication includes a number of articles relevant to children and youth. Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Children Living Apart from One Parent Social Participation of Young People Education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People Boys’ Schooling Housing for Young Adult Households Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.