"Of all students surveyed, 34% reported never having consumed alcohol (Table 4.1). Alcohol use was more common among older students, with 76% of 17 year olds having consumed alcohol in the past year, compared to 17% of 12 year olds (Table 4.1).
"Current drinking (in the past week) was more common among older than younger students. Overall, a greater proportion of male (16%) than female (14%) students were current drinkers.
"Risky drinking
"While any alcohol consumption is risky for teenagers, drinking five or more drinks on one occasion in the past week indicates risky levels of drinking for adults, according to the NHMRC guidelines. In 2017, risky drinking was more common among males (6%) than females (4%) overall (Table 4.1).
"Around 33% of all students surveyed reported risky drinking on at least one occasion in their lifetime (Table 4.2). Risky drinking in the last two weeks, past month, past year, and in their lifetime, was more common in older than younger students. Risky drinking in the last two weeks was more common among male than female older students, but there was no sex difference in students aged 12 to 15.
"Drinking five or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past seven days among current drinkers followed a similar pattern, with the proportion greater among male than female students, and among older than younger students (Table 4.3). Among current drinkers, male students reported a higher average number of drinks consumed (M = 8) than female students (M = 5), and older students drank more on average (M = 7) than younger students (M = 5)."
Guerin, N. & White, V. (2020). ASSAD 2017 Statistics & Trends: Australian Secondary Students’ Use of Tobacco, Alcohol, Over-the-counter Drugs, and Illicit Substances. Second Edition. Cancer Council Victoria.
