Rise in drinking raises alarm

Great Southern residents are being urged to find healthy ways to cope with the pandemic after a new poll revealed a surge in alcohol consumption. Commissioned by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, a market analysis company YouGov Galaxy polled more than 1000 Australians on their alcohol consumption during the coronavirus crisis. The data published last week showed one in five households reported buying more booze during the pandemic. Among those households, 70 per cent of people said they were drinking more than usual and more than a third said they were drinking every day. Twenty-eight per cent of them were drinking to cope with anxiety and stress, while more than one in five said they were worried about the amount of alcohol they or someone in their household were drinking. In the week to March 27, Australian spending in bottle shops was up 86 per cent on the same period last year, according to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Palmerston Association Great Southern manager Ben Headlam described the statistics as alarming. “All the factors that lead people to drinking more are kind of heightened at the moment,” he said. “People drink out of boredom... there’s a lot of people who are out of work and there’s a lot stress, a lot of fear and a lot of anxiety in the community, and people will look for ways to cope and escape that. “All of the traditional ways that we would distract ourselves or use to cope in a healthy way — many of those things are taken away.” Mr Headlam said turning to alcohol now could lead to serious consequences later. “I do have fears that because of the psychological impacts of isolation or prolonged isolation we will have people that will have challenges letting go of what felt like a harmless coping strategy,” he said. “It’s not helpful. It might feel better in the short term but ultimately it could make everything worse.” The volume of calls to Albany Palmerston Association has also jumped in recent weeks. “It’s not just people who are needing treatment, it’s people that just need a little support,” he said. “There are also swathes of the community that we are unable or finding it hard to reach to support — people that don’t have a phone or internet access or that sort of stuff.” Last week, the State Government confirmed it would roll out a $330,000 advertising campaign urging West Australians not to turn to alcohol during the pandemic. Health Minister Roger Cook said the Alcohol Think Again educational campaign was set to go live in a few weeks across WA TV channels and would provide tips for reducing alcohol consumption that were “practical and achievable in the current pandemic context”. Mr Headlam said Palmerston was working on strategies to get local residents actively engaged in the message of the campaign. If you are seeking support call Great Southern Community Alcohol and Drug Service – Albany on: 9892 2100.