The Australian National Council on Drugs report, which was released this week, makes for pretty sobering reading. In short the key findings were:
- almost one in eight deaths of people aged under 25 is owed to alcohol
- 60 per cent of all police attendances (including 90 per cent of late-night calls) involve alcohol
- one in five hospitalisations of people under 25 is owed to alcohol
- 20 per cent of Australians drink at levels putting them at risk of lifetime harm
- almost two-thirds of 18–29-year-olds drink ‘specifically to get drunk’.
This is the background to Byron’s even greater problems of late-night intoxication and violence. I wonder how the local Liquor Accord accounts for these findings in their defence of Byron’s late-night alcohol supply.
Dr David Moss, Byron Bay
I feel so sorry for these young people that need copious amounts of alcohol and other drugs to “enjoy” life.
We have such a beautiful and vibrant area to live in that surely entertainment can be had without these artificial enhancements.Run,cycle or swim are just a few activities that will release natural endorphins into your bloodstream to give you a high and will make you healthy at the same time.Work towards being able to complete the Byron Bay Triathlon as an individual or a team.
You’re right Geoff.
Like you I didn’t have a drink as a youth because I new how much more fun triathlons were.
Kids need to learn that they should be getting up early to train for triathlons everyday except Sunday, that’s for church.