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Health experts and emergency services are urging young people to take it easy this Australia Day, with research launched in Melbourne today revealing January 26 is the worst day of the year for assaults and drunkenness for people aged under 25.

A VicHealth and Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre study of ambulance attendances, hospital emergency presentations and admissions and police data on assaults and traffic incidents in Melbourne from 2000 to 2009 reveals a surge of incidents on public holidays which involve warm weather.

The Drinking cultures and social occasions* research shows that after New Year’s Eve, assaults and acute intoxication among the general Melbourne population peak on Australia Day, followed by ANZAC Day.

On Australia Day, ambulance attendances for intoxicated young people more than doubled. There was an increase of more than 50 per cent of young people treated for intoxication in emergency departments, while there was a two-fold increase in people treated for injuries due to assaults.

There was also a spike in emergency department presentations related to alcohol the day before Australia Day, due to many people pre-empting the public holiday as a day to recover.

Lead author of the Drinking cultures and social occasions report, Turning Point’s Dr Belinda Lloyd, found public holidays that involved barbeques and warm weather tended to result in overindulgence and injury.

“These holidays are associated with patriotism and national identity and while most people celebrate in a safe and respectful way, unfortunately some people get caught up in drunken aggressive behaviour,” Dr Lloyd said. “These trends aren’t just restricted to young people, there are elevated assaults and intoxication across the population as well.”

VicHealth’s alcohol program manager, Brian Vandenberg, said the results reinforce the need for responsibility by individuals, alcohol manufacturers and the community in general.

“Sadly, many Australians spend Australia Day filled with alcohol rather than national pride,” he said. “Nobody wants to spend Australia Day dealing with drunken idiots in our hospitals, violent thugs on our streets, and drunk drivers on our roads.

“Adults need to set a good example of responsible alcohol consumption so that we stop sending messages to young people that it’s okay to get drunk on Australia Day. We also need the makers and suppliers of alcohol to stop encouraging people to buy massive amounts of cheap of booze which fuels our binge drinking culture.”

Mr Vandenberg added that liquor laws in Victoria needed a revamp, to give priority to public health and protecting community safety, rather than the continuing expansion of alcohol availability.

The report is available online at http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Programs-and-Projects/Alcohol-Misuse.aspx