20% of ACT adults drink at risky levels

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About one in five ACT adults drink alcohol at risky levels but men are three times more likely to do so than women. 

The ACT Chief Health Officer’s Report 2014 reveals there were 19 deaths in 2010 and 14 in 2011 where the underlying cause of death was due to alcohol consumption. Alcoholic liver disease caused most of the deaths. 

The report, based on data collected between 2010 and 2012, found there had been an increase in people over the age of 15 who were treated in emergency departments for alcohol attributable injuries – from 5084 in 2009-10 to 5093 in 2010-11 and to 5574 in 2011-12. 

But underage drinking appears to be declining with the report showing a decrease in alcohol consumption for ACT students aged 12-17.