Trends in alcohol availability, use and treatment 2003–04 to 2014–15

From 2003–04 to 2014–15 the rate of treatment for alcohol in Australia has increased. From 2004 to 2013 however, there was a decrease in the rate of Australians drinking alcohol and this was seen across a range of risk measures. Similarly, the apparent consumption of alcohol (as determined through sales and taxation data) has decreased nationally from 2003–04 to 2013–14. Analyses at lower geographical areas found higher rates of people in remote and very remote areas reporting risky drinking than people in other areas—and this was across all measures of risk—and treatment for alcohol was also highest in remote and very remote areas.