Home → Media information → 1999 media releases → Rural youth alcohol use up, related crime down (13 Dec 1999)
Media Release
Rural youth alcohol use up, related crime down
13 December 1999
Alcohol use and in particular hazardous or harmful use amongst rural youth has increased substantially more than amongst metropolitan youth. These are the findings of a report released today by the Australian Institute of Criminology at their Alcohol, Young People and Violence Roundtable.
Alcohol-related Social Disorder and Rural Youth: Part 1 - Victims, by Paul Williams, is the first in a two part series looking at the consumption of alcohol and its association with social disorder and victimisation. The second will focus on perpetrators.
In 1993, 14-19 year olds in metropolitan areas consumed alcohol at a greater level than their rural counterparts. But use amongst 14-19 year old rural youth increased from 53.7 per cent in 1993 to 82 per cent in 1998. Whereas amongst metropolitan 14-19 year olds it increased from 67.4 per cent to 71.5 per cent.
In 1993, hazardous or harmful alcohol use amongst metropolitan 20-24 year olds was at higher levels than the same age group in rural areas. But hazardous or harmful use amongst 20-24 year olds in rural areas almost doubled from 30.9 per cent in 1993 to 61.4 per cent in 1998. Whereas amongst metropolitan 20-24 year olds in increased from 44.5 per cent to 54.5 per cent.
"The consumption of alcohol is embedded in the culture of rural Australia. Most rural youth in Australia have tried alcohol, some regularly and at hazardous and harmful rates. This increases their likelihood of being involved in social disorder as victims or perpetrators, or both", Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology, Dr Adam Graycar, said today.
However, the paper also reveals that alcohol-related personal abuse and property disorders amongst young people across Australia decreased substantially between 1993 and 1998.
In 1998, 44.5 per cent of metropolitan 14-19 year olds and 33.1 per cent in rural areas experienced alcohol-related personal abuse, compared to 64.1 per cent and 56.6 per cent respectively in 1993.
The figures for alcohol-related property disorder also dropped from 1998 to 1993:
- from 25.3 to 13.9 per cent for 14-19 year old metropolitan youth;
- from 34.6 to 18.1 per cent for 20-24 year old metropolitan youth;
- from 22.5 to 14.3 per cent for 14-19 year old rural youth; and
- from 54.7 to 13.9 per cent for 20-24 year old rural youth.
The paper used data from the three most recent National Drug Strategy Household Surveys conducted in 1993, 1995 and 1998, which surveyed more than 17 000 people aged 14 years and older.
The aim of the Australian Institute of Criminology's Roundtable is to inform policy development and in particular the development of the National Alcohol Action Plan.