Research commissioned by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and the Australian Drug Foundation has found that 88 percent of respondents either strongly agree (51 percent) or agree (37 percent) that pre-mixed drinks make alcohol more attractive to young people.
The new survey to gauge people’s views on alcopops has found that 87 percent of respondents believe that pre-mixed drinks, or alcopops, are most likely to be drunk by people under 18 years.
The survey, conducted in Victoria over the last fortnight, included 507 men and women aged 18 years and over.
“Eighty-five percent of people surveyed either strongly agreed (47 percent) or agreed (38 percent) that the sweet taste of some alcohol products increases the risk of underage drinking,” said VicHealth Chief Executive Officer, Todd Harper.
The survey also found that more than two of every three respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that the low price of some alcohol products increases the risk of underage drinking.
“There is strong evidence that increasing the cost of alcohol reduces overall consumption,” Mr Harper said.
“This is one of several reasons why VicHealth and the Australian Drug Foundation are supporting the alcopops tax, currently being reviewed by a Senate inquiry.
“The Senate must ensure that alcopops are not sold at pocket money prices,” said the Australian Drug Foundation’s Head of Policy, Geoff Munro.
Mr Munro said alcopops drinkers are drinking less since the tax increase and will therefore be at reduced risk of actual harm from violence, sexual assault and accidents.
According to the survey, more than four in every five respondents agreed that the way some alcohol products are named and packaged, as well as the way some alcohol products are advertised, increases the risk of underage drinking.
Mr Munro said the alcopops tax offered the opportunity to reduce the attraction of alcohol to children and adolescents and he urged the Senate to pass the bill.
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Summary results alcopops survey