Men's Risky Drinking - Coverage by ABC News Breakfast (Radio)

Description

Interview with Kirstan Corben, Programs Group Executive Manager, VicHealth. New alcohol-related research from VicHealth and the Monash University has revealed men severely underestimate the harm that can be caused by alcohol, with some men thinking 29 drinks per session is fine while a small number thought there is no such thing as a dangerous level of alcohol consumption. Corben states men are generally concerned about the drinking culture that surrounds men but they feel uncomfortable on how to intervene unless a friend is about to drive while drunk. She states 'risky drinking' refers to any more than four standard drinks per session but she says they have seen almost 60% of Victorian men drink over five standard drinks per session every week while 38% drink over 11 standard drinks per session monthly. She adds its common for men to drink at risky levels. Corben states they are taking a cultural perspective regarding alcohol consumption, and she says they know alcohol is important for men to be able to connect with friends, and the behaviour may have been inherited from their fathers or grandfathers. She states VicHealth is releasing new funding, totalling at $500m, and that they want to partner with organisations that want to change the risky drinking culture among men. Corben says the alcohol industry is not exempt from responsibility and the way alcohol is marketed is definitely making the creation of healthy behaviours difficult.