Underage drinking and alcohol misuse is continuing a dramatic decline according to official Australian government data.
82 per cent of 12-17 year olds in Australia do not drink any alcohol at all, up from 56.5 per cent in 2007, The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2016 released last year found.
Those aged 12-17 drinking at lifetime risky patterns fell from 4.2 per cent in 2010 to 1.3 per cent in 2016, and that those aged 12-17 at risk of drinking harm on a single occasion fell from 14.1 per cent in 2010 to 5.4 per cent in 2016.
Brewers Association of Australia CEO Brett Heffernan said: “What is clear is that under-age drinking is in consistent long-term decline in Australia and the age of initiation (having a first drink) continues to rise.
“Of the 18 per cent of teens who tried alcohol, the age of first drink has moved up from 14 years and 7 months in 2004 to 16 years and one month in 2016.”
