But 'Big alcohol' in Australia has been accused of using many of the similar PR techniques as American tobacco companies to protect its interests and this contributes to the culture of binge drinking. While the "alcohol industry does not want to be seen in the same light as big tobacco, they are using the identical strategies of heavy advertising, heavy promotion, heavy sponsorship, opposing tax increases and soft education programs that don't work" (The medical news, 2009).
According to a 2009 article entitled "We have a problem with alcohol? Most Aussies say 'yes,'" the majority of Australians acknowledge that something must change, culturally, and in terms of government social policy, to thwart the influence of alcohol on daily life: "70% want more action from government and think that government needs to do more in terms of advertising and of sponsorship," and are willing to endure greater government intervention to curb the sale and the general acceptance of alcohol in society. "Almost 100% per cent of respondents" to a recent survey about alcohol abuse "agreed the responsibility to help communities with alcohol problems should be shared between governments, alcohol manufacturers, alcohol retailers, individuals and the health and not-for-profit sector." Many individual communities are already calling for greater regulation, complaining that the closing times for pubs and bars are too late, that laws against public drunkenness and property damage are not harsh enough or simply not enforced, and even note that "social networking technology like SMS and Facebook" are "being used to organize large, uncontrolled binge-drinking sessions" (Grimm 2009).
Binge drinking is to a great degree reliant upon social acceptance. It has become acceptable to be publically drunk at sporting events,...
Also, people are drinking at younger and younger ages. This increases the dangers of developing alcoholism later in life as alcoholic indulgence becomes habituated. Collectively, as a society, through government efforts, federal and local regulation, and awareness, Australians must 'rewrite their version of normal' and see binge drinking and alcoholic indulgence as an unacceptable practice rather than harmless fun.
Works Cited
Australian government: Department of health and aging. 2009. Alcohol. [Online] (Updated
2009). Available at: http://www.alcohol.gov.au/
Grimm, Nick. "NSW authorities gear up for binge drinking fight."ABC.net. June 13, 2009.
[Online] (Updated June 13, 2009). Available at:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/13/2597320.htm
The medical news. 22 Apr 2009. Lid lifted on alcohol industry's worst fears. [Online]. (Updated
2009). [Accessed 18 Jun 2009]
Available at: http://www.news-medical.net/news/2009/04/22/48625.aspx
The medical news. 21 Feb 2008. PM says binge drinking an epidemic across Australia. [Online].
(Updated 2009). [Accessed 18 Jun 2009]
Available at: http://www.news-medical.net/news/35424.aspx
The medical news. 11 May 2009. We have an alcohol problem? Most Aussies say yes! [Online].
(Updated 2009). [Accessed 18 Jun 2009]
Available at: http://www.news-medical.net/news/2009/05/11/49301.aspx
Reach out.com. 2009. What is Binge drinking? [Online] (Updated 18 Jun 2009).
Available at: http://au.reachout.com/find/articles/binge-drinking [Accessed 18 Jun 2009].
