When the Western Australian general population was surveyed
in 2004 to find out the acceptability of drunkenness and support
for environmental changes to reduce drunkenness, this what
they had to say.
Nearly three-quarters (73%) thought that it is inappropriate
to be drunk in public.
Over two-fifths of respondents (44%) suggested that the availability
of alcohol was the major factor that facilitated public drunkenness.
Availability of alcohol included: easy access to alcohol,
supply to underage drinkers, the number of outlets, and the
trading hours of liquor stores and drinking venues.
Environmental changes related to reducing the supply of alcohol
were mentioned by one third of respondents (33%) as factors
that would assist in reducing public drunkenness.
The most serious consequences thought to be caused by drunkenness
were:
- drink driving (90%)
- involvement in a traffic accident (81%)
- killing themselves or others (78%)
- assault of a partner or friend (69%)
- assault of a stranger (67%).
The most likely negative consequences thought to result from
people getting drunk were:
- drink driving (64%)
- damaging their health (62%)
- involvement in a traffic accident (60%)
- disrupting others (57%)
- violence or verbal abuse (55%).
The youngest age group (14 to 24-year-olds) perceived themselves
to be at greater risk of encountering the consequences of
excessive alcohol consumption.
A relatively large proportion (46%) of the general community
said they had suffered as a result of drunkenness, and the
younger a person is, the greater chance they will have suffered.
Three in ten (30%) people had been verbally abused in the
previous 12 months, (9%) had been physically abused and (18%)
had been put in fear by someone who was drunk.
The majority of respondents (77%) supported the need to reduce
public drunkenness and indicated support for increased enforcement
and public education.
| Strategy to reduce public
drunkenness |
Potential
Impact
% of respondents who thought
the strategy would have an impact |
Level of
Support
% of respondents who would
support the strategy |
| Stricter enforcement of underage drinking |
94% |
88% |
| More severe penalties for drink driving |
91% |
87%% |
| Requiring adults to be present whenever alcohol is made
available |
90% |
89% |
| Stricter enforcement of law against bar staff serving
drunks |
89% |
79% |
| Limiting advertising for alcohol on TV until after 9.30pm |
78% |
77% |
| Serving only low alcohol drinks at events |
95% |
74% |
| Increased penalties for supplying underage drinkers |
91% |
83% |
| Increase number of alcohol-free zones at events |
90% |
82% |
| Increased penalties for licensees serving underage drinkers |
89% |
78% |
| Increasing the price of alcohol |
68% |
20% |
| Reducing trading hours for all pubs and clubs |
73% |
30% |
| Reducing the number of outlets that sell alcohol |
64% |
32% |
| Reducing trading hours for liquor stores and other outlets
|
68% |
36% |
| Prohibiting packaged alcohol from being sold on certain
days |
61% |
30% |
