This study shows a link between days around major sporting events and increases in alcohol intoxication and related harm based on data on ambulance attendances, emergency department and hospital admissions, and police attendances.
Download:
Resource 1: Drinking cultures and social occasions-Sporting events research report (908KB)
Resource 2: Drinking cultures and social occasions-Sporting events research summary (749KB)
This research is produced by Eastern Health-Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre with VicHealth funding, and shows a link between days around major sporting events and increases in alcohol intoxication and related harm based on data on ambulance attendances, emergency department and hospital admissions, and police attendances. It provides evidence that acute intoxication, motor vehicle accidents and injuries due to assaults increase around these events, and generally rise the day before.
It shows peak times for alcohol-related harms in Melbourne occuring on Fridays and Saturdays, and during the warmer months.
This evidence highlights the impact of risky alcohol use and the harmful drinking culture on resource allocation and staffing for police, ambulance and emergency services. The data also gives valuable guidance for targeting alcohol intervention and prevention initiatives and health education campaigns to minimise harms associated with drinking.
