Proportion of adults at risk of long-term harm from alcohol

Definition: The proportion of people aged 18 and over whose alcohol consumption pattern puts them at risk of lifetime alcohol-related harm (consumed more than 2 standard drinks per day on average), according to 2009 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines (NHMRC 2009).

Source: ABS 2015d; Table S1.4.14.

  • In 2014–15, 17% of adults consumed more than 2 standard drinks per day on average, exceeding the lifetime risk guideline.
  • Men were almost 3 times as likely as women to consume alcohol at risky levels in 2014–15 (26% of men compared with 9.3% of women).
  • After adjusting for differences in the age structure, rates of risky alcohol consumption for adults were 19% in 2001, 22% in 2004–05, 21% in 2007–08, 19% in 2011–12 and 17% in 2014–15.

For more information, see Chapter 4.6 'Alcohol risk and harm'.