Teenagers turn back on Aussie drinking culture as data reveals only one in four teens consume alcohol

REBELLIOUS teen teetotallers are rejecting Australia’s booze culture, with only one in four teenagers drinking alcohol.

Lachlan Lewis and girlfriend Steph Russo, both 20, have just moved to Sydney and choose not to drink. Picture: Toby Zerna

REBELLIOUS teen teetotallers are rejecting Australia’s booze culture, with only one in four teenagers drinking alcohol.

Drinking rates among teenagers have halved from 56 per cent to just 28 per cent in a decade, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data reveals.

Risky drinking — more than four drinks in one session at least once a month — dropped from 17 per cent in 2004 to 9 per cent 8.7 per cent in 2013, the new report shows.

Drinking rates among teenagers have halved in the last decade.

Binge drinking — more than 11 drinks in a session at least once a year — almost halved from 10.6 per cent of teenagers to 5.5 per cent in a decade.

National Drug Research Institute alcohol expert Steve Allsop said teenagers could be rebelling against Australia’s traditional booze mentality.

And he said immigration could be diluting the nation’s strong drinking culture.

“There is a generational thing where teenagers don’t want to be like their parents,’’ Professor Allsop said yesterday.

“Some young people have been affected by images of drunkenness and violence, and they don’t want to be in that space.’’

Teenagers are becoming more aware of the health consequences when it comes to drinking.

Professor Allsop said sport-loving teens often shunned drinking during match season.

“More teenagers have become aware of the health consequences, and sport is really important to them,’’ he said.

“Also, we’re seeing more young people living at home for longer, with very little financial independence, and they might behave quite differently than if they lived in a shared house.

“Some parents have got the message and are not providing alcohol.’’

Professor Allsop said some migrant cultures frowned on drinking.

“We’ve got more young people coming from cultures where alcohol is banned or used very little,’’ he said.

A professor suggests teenagers are turning away from drinking due to violence and seeing the way people act under the influence of alcohol. Picture: Agung Parameswara/Getty Images

Lachlan Louis and his partner Stephanie Russo, both 20, have just moved to Sydney and have found the city too expensive to go out often.

Being a rugby player as well, Mr Louis is conscious about what he drinks and would rather save his money than spend it on a night out.

“It’s smarter not to drink, I play better if I don’t,” Mr Louis said.
“Drinking a lot is just not the lifestyle either of us lead. We are paying rent, we’re both studying, we just can’t afford to go out like that anymore.”

The AIHW report shows that migrants from non-English speaking countries are less likely to drink than Australians who speak English at home.

Llachlan girlfriend Steph believe it is smarter not to drink especially in today’s tough economic climate. Picture: Toby Zerna

Drinkers are now twice as likely to give up the grog for health reasons, than they were a decade ago.

Drink driving laws convinced one in five people to cut back on their drinking, and one in 12 drank less to save money.

Despite the adolescent abstinence, three million Australians swig more than 11 drinks in a sitting at least once a year.

Nearly half of Australians aged 18 to 24 binge drink occasionally, and nearly one in five binges once a month.

The AIHW data shows that one in five adults are teetotallers — up from 15 per cent in 2004.

Alcohol consumption has dropped from an average of 10.8 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2008/09 to 9.7 litres in 2013/14.

The number of Australians in drug or alcohol rehab jumped 24 per cent in a decade, with half the alcoholics seeking treatment in their 40s.