The National Alcohol Strategy 2006-2009 was developed as a response to the patterns of high risk alcohol consumption that are prevalent in Australia. Each year approximately 3,000 people die as a result of excessive alcohol consumption and around 65,000 people are hospitalised. With the annual cost to the Australian community of alcohol-related social problems estimated to be $7.6 billion.
The Strategy was endorsed by the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (MCDS) in May 2006 and was developed through collaboration between Australian governments, non-government and industry partners and the broader community. It outlines priority areas for coordinated action to develop drinking cultures that support a reduction in alcohol-related harm in Australia.
The four priority areas that have been nominated as the focus of the Strategy are:
- intoxication
- public safety and amenity
- health impacts
- cultural place and availability
The entire document may also be downloaded in separate, smaller sections:
- 'Executive Summary', 'Introduction', 'Strategy Framework', and 'Context of the Strategy' (PDF 409 KB)
- Priority Areas - 'Intoxication', and 'Public Safety' and 'Amenity' (PDF 239 KB)
- Priority Areas - 'Health Impacts', and 'Cultural Place and Availability' (PDF 323 KB)
- 'Where to from here?', 'Appendices', and 'References' (PDF 91 KB)
Source: Robin G W Room
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