Flawed findings

The Australian Liquor Stores Association (ALSA) has been roundly criticised for releasing a report attempting to downplay the significance of alcohol harms in Australia, just days ahead of the alcohol industry’s most lucrative public holidays.

Their research into ‘Australia’s changing drinking habits’ is deliberately misleading and self-serving.

ALSA has selectively chosen favourable data to try to demonstrate that alcohol isn’t a problem for Australians – which isn’t surprising given who they represent. The association acts on the behalf of all off-licence retail liquor merchants across Australia, including the likes of big corporate interests such as Coles and Woolworths.

The report fails to present a balanced view on risks, trends and alcohol consumption. While pointing to the decline in per capita consumption of alcohol, the ALSA report neglected to breakdown any data by demographics such as gender or age.

A closer examination reveals the concerning numbers of Australians who are drinking at dangerous levels and above the recommended guidelines. 42 per cent of drinkers are drinking more than 5 drinks on a monthly basis, 15.8 per cent consume 11+ drinks, and 5 per cent of drinkers are drinking 20+ drinks on a monthly basis.

The report also contains exaggerated claims that the alcohol industry played a role in reducing alcohol harms and changing alcohol consumption patterns.

It is true that we have seen a reduction in underage drinking, but it is laughable to suggest that those changes are thanks to ALSA or the alcohol industry. Any changes seen in young people’s drinking patterns are more likely due to other factors, such as the introduction of tougher secondary supply laws and the tax increases on alco-pops.

But perhaps the biggest flaw in this analysis lies in its omissions. The ALSA report is more revealing by what it neglects to tell the people of Australia, than by what it actually contains.

Countless peer-reviewed journal articles have demonstrated the link between alcohol outlet density and alcohol harms, but ALSA chooses to dismiss the science. Alcohol harms in Australia are significant, but again ALSA steadfastly ignores those devastating harms from alcohol and the lives destroyed.

The fact remains: Alcohol kills 15 Australians a day and hospitalises a further 430.

We all know that we have a problem with alcohol, 75 per cent of Australians think it’s a concern, and yet the packaged liquor industry is not prepared to accept its share of responsibility.

ALSA’s motivations for releasing this report are crystal clear.

Despite what the alcohol industry might suggest, liquor retailers are concerned by the declines in underage youth drinking. This impacts on their ability to recruit new drinkers and secure the next generation of income.

The alcohol industry is worried that consumers are becoming more concerned about the very real harms caused by drinking alcohol.

And ALSA is fearful that Australian Governments are increasingly becoming more open to introducing measures that reduce alcohol-related harms, including those that impact on pricing and availability. Such measures would constrain the growth of liquor outlets and force retailers to reconsider their business models.

If you need further confirmation that this report is nothing but industry funded PR spin, consider its release date. The timing was no coincidence, with the misleading research deliberately circulated as Australians prepare to celebrate their national holiday.

It is impossible to see the ALSA report as anything but a cynical ploy to pretend the problem doesn’t exist, in the hope that their member’s cash registers rang loudly on the Australia Day long weekend and that governments hesitate to act.

ALSA can cherry pick numbers, omit data, and spin their research findings to serve its purpose all day long. But what it cannot do is make the very real harms caused by alcohol disappear by just pretending that they do not exist.