Wastewater study reveals Territorians drinking twice as much as the rest of Australia

The NT is the booze and cigarette capital of Australia, with Territorians drinking and smoking up to twice as much as those in the rest of the country. See the astonishing numbers.

Territorians are drinking and smoking up to twice as much as the rest of the country, new wastewater testing shows.

The latest Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) wastewater testing, conducted in April and June 2022, reveals Territorians led the nation in capital city consumption of alcohol and nicotine per capita, as well as regionally.

They also led the country in the regional use of MDMA, MDA and were second highest in cannabis consumption.

Wastewater analysis, which involves testing sewage samples, is undertaken at two Territory sites, one regional and one metropolitan that cover about 25 per cent of the entire population.

Territorians are drinking twice as much as other parts of Australia according to the latest figures from the Australian Crime Intelligence Commission.

Across the country, 57 sites were sampled making up for about 56 per cent of Australia’s population.

The latest figures show that Darwin’s alcohol consumption in June came in at about 3000 standard drinks per 1000 people per day, doubling the country’s two biggest cities Sydney and Melbourne that each consumed about 1400 and 1100 standard drinks per 1000 people per day.

Regionally the Territory’s alcohol consumption, last tested in April, was higher than any other regional area in the country tipping in at about 2500 standard drinks per 1000 people per day.

States such as New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland recorded consumption of about 1400, 1200 and 1100 standard drinks per 1000 people per day.

The report noted that alcohol consumption has increased towards levels seen before a minimum unit price of $1.30 per unit was introduced in the Territory in October 2018.

The figures also showed that smokers in Darwin consumed about 3750 cigarettes per 1000 people per day with Sydney and Melbourne again well below, each recording figures of about 1700 cigarettes per 1000 people per day.

Territorians in both city and regional areas are consuming more nicotine than anywhere else in the country. Picture: iStock

Nicotine use in the NT’s regions was slightly lower when last tested in April, with Territorians there smoking about 3500 cigarettes per 1000 people per day, compared with about 2100 smokes per 1000 people per day in New South Wales and Victoria.

The latest testing of Darwin wastewater also showed that use of MDMA in the Territory’s capital city was the second highest of any in the country, while regional consumption of the drug was the highest of anywhere in the country.

ACIC chief executive Michael Phelan said serious and organised crime groups continued to profit from the drug trade.

“We know that illicit drug activity is placing a significant burden on the Australian economy and this money could be better spent on education, healthcare and more,” he said.

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission chief executive Michael Phelan said a decrease in national consumption of MDMA and other illicit drugs was due to supply issues.

ACIC suspected MDMA consumption had decreased since December 2019 due to decisions made by serious and organised crime groups in Europe that were key to supplying MDMA in Australia.

Despite the Territory’s higher use, Mr Phelan said national consumption of MDMA, MDA oxycodone and fentanyl fell to record low levels in April.

“The decreases in consumption are likely related to supply issues,” he said.