The+growing+trend+of+binge+drinking+within+generation+Y+-+what+are+the+implications,+and+what+can+be+done

**__ Generation Why Do You Binge Drink __**
n8097470 Angela Lewis Tutor: Abby Hamilton

//**__ The Artifact __**//



Amy Winehouse belonged to Generation Y and although isn’t your typical stereotype of this generation, she is an example of the effects of living a life of binge drinking and heavy use of drugs. Amy shirt proudly displays her affinity with drugs almost like she wears it like a badge of honor. Ultimately her death at 27 this year, is an example of the life that a portion of this generation could be lead to if these habits start to control and become an addiction. Recently it has been found that Amy had died not from her notorious drug use but binge drinking after weeks of being dry from alcohol.

//**__ Public Health Issues __**//

The affects of drugs and alcohol are widely documented and with the increase with binge drinking and the use of party drugs, there are many health implications such as mental and physical health. Amy Winehouse is the ultimate example of what heavy use leads to. I will discuss the implications within Genration Y of binge drinking or drinking to get drunk. The concern for Gen Y is that these habits can start at this early age, when you are in your late teens and early 20’s, and are more likely to be tempted and not see (or ignore) the implications, setting up a young person for a life time of addiction and health complications. As I will explain further in this discussion, this in the long term will lead to strain on the already over extended public health care system.

//**__ Literature Review __**//

The theme for this paper, center around the facts on the increase in Alcohol misuse in Generation Y, more specifically the rise of binge drinking for this age group. Generation Y is a group of people born between 1982 and 2000, currently putting this group at around 11-29 years of age. Binge drinking is defined as ‘episodic excessive drinking’ (Charles, Miller,& Valenti. 2011 p.1), also defining this as drinking 6 or more standard drinks in one occasion. Information resourced from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey report (2010), has found interesting facts concerning generation Y. As an over all snap shot, 84% of Australians drink alcohol, with this being fairly evenly distributed in overall use over the generations. But differences start to occur in our use of alcohol. A large portion of Generation Y ‘drink to get drunk’ at 61%, but only 7% of these think this is the wrong way to consume alcohol. The implication of this is that this generation drinks large amounts in one hit, rather than steady drinking across the week. Binge drinking becomes not just a generational issue but also a public issue. According to Brewer, Mkodad, Naimi, & Lee (2007), in the United States 75000 deaths occurs annually from excessive alcohol. And shockingly this becomes the third largest preventable cause of death in this country. According to this journal these deaths include fetal alcohol disorders, accidental injuries, violence, alcohol poisoning, sexually transmitted disease, alcohol poisoning, and acute myocardial infarction.

As Australia has equal concerns about binge drinking, this is now considered a major public health issue. This is shown by a study completed by Baillie, Grove, Haber, Hall, Mewton, Mills, Slade, Teesson, (2010), that showed our rates for alcohol use and associated mental health issues, in the mental health survey, were some of the highest rates world. With these mental health disorders affecting woman less, and lay mostly within generation Y and steadily decrease in incidence as the ages increase. This research is also found in a study in 2011 by Charles et al., (2011) in Australia one third of 18-24 year olds are regular binge drinkers. With this number increases for health care card holders and English speaking were twice as likely to binge that non-English speaking. Australians in remote areas are also more likely to binge drink than city dwellers. With this information we can see why there is a need for action within this generation to educate on the long and short term effects of binge drinking. With this in mind, strategies can start to be considered that target low socioeconomic populations, rural areas, and English speaking generation Y, to combat this problem. Currently alcohol contributes to 70% of mortality in liver disease in the United Kingdom, (Gilmore, Hawkey & Sheron, 2011). Even though this study did not target Australia, with the information we already have on the increase in binge drinking for our country, the risk of liver, kidney damage and alcohol-related disease with generation Y will be chronic.

Incidence related to alcohol increases as blood alcohol levels increase. In a study by Johnston & McGovern (2008), found that as blood alcohol levels increase alcohol related falls are more associated with injury. Injuries can increase significantly with consumption on alcohol, as was found in this study, head injuries increase by 48%, soft tissue limb injury by 58%, limb fractures by 55% and lead injuries by 90%. These injuries also increased in severity with the increase in blood alcohol levels. As injury is high so is the incidence of death related to Alcohol.

Drugs and alcohol are some of the biggest issues facing mental health services, as the increase of binge drinking shows an increase in mental health issues. These mental health complications become especially troublesome when binge drinking starts as at a very young age. Gastel, Jansen & Theunissen (2011), note that boys and girls who start drinking at this young age are significantly more at risk of mental health complications. This young Generation Y still have developing brains, and when combining this brain development with binge drinking, this can lead to complications with their development. Excessive drinking also proved in this study that there was a high occurrence of risk behaviors, increase in suicidal behavior, and a high rate of depression.

To address this issue in Australia, the Federal government has implemented an alcopops tax, making pre-mixed alcoholic drinks more expensive to buy. Allsop, Chikritzhs, Daube, Dietze, Hall & Kypri (2009), found in a University of Queensland study that since the implementation of this tax in 2008, the ABS has found a decline in the consumption of alcopops. But on the other side, there was an increase in the amount of spirits sold, leading to the over mixing of drinks and a higher alcohol content per drink. Overall the amount of alcohol consumption has decreased by 2%, so it may seem that implementing this tax has had its desired effect. This paper discusses for the overall reduction in alcohol use that the implimentation of higher taxes on alcohol, should help decrease our alcohol consumption as a whole and decrease the associated health implications. But is this the case? As the alcopops has decrease in use, at the same time we are seeing an increase in ecstasy use. The 2010 National Drug Strategy household survey found that the use of ecstasy is steadily on the rise for gen Y, and when we couple this with increase sales in spirit sales, can we assume that placing tax on all alcohol will just increase the use of drugs that are fairly cheap to purchase.

//**__ Cultural and Social Analysis __**//

The rate at which at which the early half of generation Y are consuming alcohol, is an alarming trend for the Australian community (Lubmun, MacLean, Pennay, 2011). The age bracket of 14-19 year olds are risking short term effects from binge drinking on a monthly or weekly basis. Short-term risks of accidents and incidence increase as does the risk of violence and sexually trasnmitted disease. Lubman et al., (2011), suggest that our Australian drinking culture has bread this current situation. Generation Y is no different as to why they drink, being part of our culture we drink to socialize and relax. The differences have been suggested for Generation Y with experimentation and higher risk taking. Being more likely to drink large amounts with high amount of alcohol content.

So the question becomes, how do we change this situation? A study by Cater & Coleman (2007) in the United Kingdom, approached the issue by asking the generation that is having the issue. They were asked if they first thought that this ‘drink to get drunk’ issue was a real problem, and what they can do to stop it. They firstly found that most of this age group from 18-25, did not think that they consider binge drinking normal and a part of having fun. Within Australia the National Drug Strategy household survey (2010), found that 61% of Generation Y ‘drink to get drunk’ on a weekly or monthly basis. Not only is this the highest generational group to do so, but only 7% of these think this is the wrong way to consume alcohol. These are alarming trends within Australia considering the information in the last section on health implications to the person and the community.

Currently we see more alcohol ad’s on TV clearly aimed at the younger generation, making drinking their brand fun and the latest new drink to be seen with. TV show’s like sex in the city, have been known to promote particular types of cocktails, therefore for a period of time a cosmopolitan was the drink to be seen with. As Generation Y are a contemporary consumer culture, alcohol is advertised to appeal to their trends (Lubman et al., 2011). This paper also notes the increase in strength of alcohol in pre-mixed drinks by 50%. Cater & Cater (2007) suggest social and educational changes need to be addressed to change the situation. It is also clear that any actions that have previously been undertaken have been unsuccessful. So suggestions such as changing the family environment, changes in society structures, legislation, activity alternatives for the generation, and looking at the Mediterranean style of drinking. Lubman et al., (2011) agrees with the above, suggesting that prevention is better than cure. Take the campaign for smoking, which has been successful, which now can boast that the increase of people that have never smoked has increased steadily since 1998 (2010 National Drug Strategy household survey). This has been successful because of the fact it has become less culturally and socially acceptable. If this could be harnessed and implemented with the success no-smoking campaigns have had, we might start to see a decrease in the trend for binge drinking in Generation Y and a decrease in the health implications.

//**__ Analysis of the artifact and reflection __**//

Amy Winehouse is the example as to not only the effects of the drugs she was notorious for but the binge drinking. Officially her cause of death was alcohol and not the drugs like most of us assumed. This ‘death by misadventure’ for the 27 year old occurred from alcohol poisoning after tests confirmed her blood alcohol reading was 5 times the legal driving limit. Her readings tested 416mg/100ml of blood, compared to the legal limit of 80mg/100ml. After 3 week of abstaining from alcohol, Amy was found with 2 large and one small bottle of vodka beside her body. This binge drinking is finally what killed her. Being within the age bracket of my subject, Amy is a icon of her Generation. Not only this but an example of what the long-term effects of drugs and alcohol can have on a person. Consuming alcohol and drugs obviously does not always lead to an ultimate end like Amy, but could lead to long term mental and physical health issues that can make life unmanageable. These issues impact not only the person but also the family, and the community. Long-term health problems impact the family if the person can no longer look after them selves or work. Having then to rely on the family to look after them. The community is seeing the heavy burden health implications on the public health system. With binge drinking we can see life long complications with liver and kidney damage, and mental health issues. Having a daughter within this generation I have personally learnt some valuable lessons on education, and this should not be left up to the education system but parents need to take ownership and also be an example for a child to look up to.


 * __ Reference List __**

Allsop, S. J., Chikritzhs, T. N., Daube, M. M., Dietze, P. M., Hall, W. D., Kypri, K. (2009). The alcopops tax: heading in the right direction. //The Medical Journal of Australia,// 190(6), 294-295. Retrieved from: []

Baillie, A., Grove, R., Haber, P., Hall, W., Mewton, L., Mills, K., Teesson, M. (2010). Prevalence and correlates of DSM-IIV alcohol abuse and dependence in Australia: findings of the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbing. //Society for the Study of Addiction//, 105, 2085-2094. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03096.x

Brewer, R. D., Naimi, T., Mokdad, A. H., Warner, L. (2007). Bringe Drinking is a problem that cannot be ignored. //Preventative Medicine//, 44(4), 303-304. doi:[|10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.01.007]

Cater, S., Cole, L. (2007). Changing the culture of young people’s binge drinking: From motivations to practical solutions. //Drugs (abingdon, England)//, 14(4), 305. doi: 10.1080/09687630601070878

Charles, Janice., Miller, G., Valenti, L. (2011). Binge Drinking. //Australian Family Phasician,// 40(6), 569. Retreived from: []

Gastel, A., Jansen, M., Theunissen, M. (2011). Are mental health and binge drinking associated in Dutch adolescents? Cross-sectional public health study. //BMC research notes,// 4(1), 100. doi:10.1186/1756-0500-4-100

Gilmore, I., Hawkey, C., Sherson, N. (2011). Projections of alcohol deaths – a wake-up call. //The Lancet,// 377(9774), 1297-1299. doi:[|10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60022-6]

Johnston, J. J., McGovern, S. J. (2011). Alcohol and Head Injury. //Annals of Emergency Medicine,// 51(4), 495. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2008.01.046

Labman, D., MacLean, S., Pennay, A. (2011). Risky drinking among young Australians: Causes, effects and implications for GP’s. //Australian Family Physician,// 40(8), 584-589. doi:[|10.1186/1756-0500-4-100]

2010 National Drug Strategy household Survey report. Retrieved from: []