Research
Current research
Reducing alcohol related harm
Robin Room and colleagues will examine the cultural meanings implicit in young people’s use of alcohol is urgently required to improve and develop interventions to reduce harm in disadvantaged areas. This research will provide an in depth analysis of the cultural meanings associated with alcohol consumption, and provide insights into best practice to reduce the harm associated with alcohol in disengaged young people.
The role of social determinants of health in the relationship between alcohol consumption and chronic health conditions
Belinda Lloyd at the Turning Point Alcohol and Drugs Centre will examine trends of increasing chronic health conditions in the context of patterns of alcohol consumption. These trends will be explored in relation to the role of social determinants of health as factors relevant to both alcohol consumption patterns and chronic health conditions in the community.
Alcohol and caffeinated energy drinks
Amy Penny and colleagues will explore the patterns, motivations and harms associated with alcoholic energy drinks. This project will involve three data collection components: participant observation in licensed venues, in-depth interviews with consumers of alcoholic energy drinks and in-depth interviews with key informants (including venue managers and emergency service staff).
Historical Alcohol and Print Media
The Australian Drug Foundation examines alcohol product advertising in print media in Victoria between 1989 to 2009. The study presents unique data showing how alcohol products are advertised in major daily newspapers and how this form of advertising has changed.
Reduce alcohol-related harms in licensed premises
Peter Miller of Deakin University is evaluating a community based intervention that aims to reduce alcohol-related harm associated with licensed premises in Geelong. The intervention will consist of a formalised accreditation program that will systematically implement demand, supply, and harm-reduction strategies within licensed venues. Moreover, it will mobilise communities through the media, social marketing, and targeted enforcement.
Completed research reports
Evaluation of the impact of febfast participation
'febfast' is a national health initiative that challenges people to take a break from alcohol consumption during February each year. VicHealth conducted an evaluation among the 2011 febfast participants to understand who took part and why, and what impacts the initiative had on their alcohol awareness, health and post-February drinking behaviours.
Drinking cultures and social occasions
Belinda Lloyd at the Turning Point Alcohol and Drugs Centre explores the harms associated with alcohol consumption in the context of public holidays and major sporting and social events in terms of general patterns, gender patterns and age patterns. The research examines the levels of harms associated with specific events after controlling for the impact of seasonal and temporal variations in alcohol related harms.
Alcohol during pregnancy
VicHealth funding provided Jane Halliday of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute with the resource for preliminary work into the study of pregnant women and their babies. The results will have broad implications for national policy review and development, health professional education and consumer diagnosis and treatment initiatives.
Strengthening the evidence base for volumetric taxation of alcohol in Australia
VicHealth funded research with the objective of informing the development and implementation of a proposed alcohol taxation regime in Australia. This report seeks to strengthen the evidence base for volumetric taxation of alcohol in Australia by addressing four aims.
Accessibility to alcohol outlets and alcohol consumption
The Victorian Lifestyle and Neighbourhood Environment Study (VicLANES) collected detailed information about alcohol consumption patterns from over 2500 participants in 21 local government areas within 20km of the Melbourne CBD. Consumption, availability and price of 70 different alcoholic beverages were recorded, providing evidence that access to an increased number of alcohol outlets is associated with a higher risk of drinking at hazardous levels.
Using geocoded liquor licensing data in Victoria
Researchers used census data to rank 10 rural and regional and 10 metropolitan areas by level of social disadvantage. They then compared those areas with liquor licensing data from 1991 to 2008. The report’s authors say their findings are cause for concern given that increased availability of alcohol is associated with increases in health and social problems.
Low Carb beer
With more than 30 varieties now available, 'low carb' beer presently makes up 8.8 per cent of the alcohol market in Australia, with more introduced every summer. The VicHealth National Community Attitudes Survey on the awareness and behaviours of low carb beer drinkers provides evidence that drinkers mistakenly believe these beverages are a healthier choice than other varieties.