The majority of Australians who consume alcohol drink most frequently at home rather than at pubs, clubs or restaurants, a new poll has found.
The annual Alcohol Poll 2020: Behaviours and Attitudes (the Poll) found that 67% of Australians who drink alcohol also had the largest quantity on one occasion in the past 12 months in the home, which is also where the majority (73%) drink most frequently.
The Poll by YouGov Galaxy, for the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), was conducted in January/February just before the COVID-19 lockdown measures were introduced.
FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi says drinking in the home is a long-standing trend that has since intensified.
“Despite what many of us assume, people who drink alcohol are more likely to do so at home, and this is true even before the lockdown measures. This is the case whether people are younger or older, women or men, or living in major cities or regional areas,” Ms Giorgi said.
The majority of people who listed home as the place they drank the largest quantity of alcohol was consistent across generations. The survey revealed 60% of 18 to 24-year-olds, and 77% of people 50 and older drank the most on one occasion at home.
“Drinking in the home is widespread, yet we don’t often think about the harms from alcohol occurring in the home because they’re largely invisible. Alcohol increases the severity and frequency of family violence and contributes to a range of cancers and alcohol dependence. These harms have significant negative impacts on children, families and whole communities,” Ms Giorgi said.
