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ABC Darwin Mornings | Sarah Clifford on the History of alcohol laws in the Northern Territory
Menzies PhD student Sarah Clifford on her study of the history of liquor laws in the Northern Territory and alcohol policy.
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ABC News: Alcohol-related domestic violence and assaults drop
Alcohol-related domestic violence and assaults drop dramatically one year on from floor price introduction
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Sunday Territorian | Liquor watches drunk on power
Sunday Soapbox opinion piece - Hayley Sorensen - mentions Menzies research on the costs and harms of alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory
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MENZIES SCHOOL OF HEALTH RESEARCH RECOGNISED WITH NATIONAL AWARD
Menzies School of Health Research, has won the Research Award at the 2019 National Alcohol and Other Drugs Excellence and Innovation Awards in Melbourne.
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drinktank | Understanding the harm of alcohol consumption
On Drink Tank today, Professor James Smith from the Menzies School of Health Research looks at a couple of the major policies adopted by the government which were influential in securing this award for the Territory.
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The social and economic costs and harms of alcohol consumption
This report presents an overview of the social and economic costs and harms of alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory (NT).
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Counting the social, economic costs of alcohol harm
ABC Kimberley | The costs and harm of alcohol consumption have been analysed by Menzies School of Health in the Northern Territory.
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Counting the social, economic costs of alcohol harm
ABC Kimberley | The costs and harm of alcohol consumption have been analysed by Menzies School of Health in the Northern Territory.
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Curious Darwin: Do Darwin residents really drink more than other Aussies
A report released this month by the Menzies School of Health Research shows that the NT does indeed have the highest rates of alcohol consumption per capita in Australia.
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According to NT government, their alcohol reforms are working
The social and economic cost of alcohol-related harm in the NT has increased according to research released by the Menzies School of Health Research.
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NT News | Alcohol related problems are costing Territory Taxpayers
Menzies School of Health Research | social and economic costs of alcohol in the Northern Territory.
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Mix 104.9 Katie Wolf with Professor James Smith
Social and Economic Costs and Harms of Alcohol Consumption in the Northern Territory.
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NT govt claims grog reforms are working
The social and economic cost of alcohol-related harm in the NT had increased from $642 million in 2009 to $1.38 billion per year, research released on Thursday by the Menzies School of Health Research said.
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Katherine goes against the trend on alcohol harm
Further, research conducted by the Menzies School of Health Research shows the social and economic cost of alcohol-related harm in the NT has increased from $642 million in 2009 to $1.38 billion per year.
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NTG Release | Alcohol Reforms are Cutting Crime
Further, research conducted by the Menzies School of Health Research shows the social and economic cost of alcohol-related harm in the NT has increased from $642 million in 2009 to $1.38 billion per year.
Aims:
- To assess the social and economic costs and harms of alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory.
Research Questions:
- What are the social and economic impacts of alcohol consumption in the NT?
Summary:
- The costs and harms of alcohol consumption in Australia are well documented, and have significant impacts across society including premature deaths, heavy use of the health system, high rates of crime (particularly violent crime and antisocial behaviour), child abuse and neglect, and road crashes (AIHW 2018a).
- Historically, the per capita costs and harms of alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory (NT) have been the highest in the nation.
- At a population level it is now estimated that the total social cost of alcohol in 2015/16 was $1,386.8 million, with tangible costs of $701.3 million, and intangible costs of $685.5 million (excluding the lost quality of life due to addiction amongst dependent drinkers and the family members of dependent drinkers).
- At an individual level the estimated total social cost of alcohol in 2015/16 was $3,832.19 in tangible costs per adult resident of the Northern Territory, with intangible costs imposing a further cost of $3,745.75 per adult. This equates to a total estimated impact of $7,577.94 per adult (excluding the costs of alcohol dependence to the dependent drinker and their family).
Implications for policy and practice:
- Further work needs to be done to reduce the costs and harms of alcohol in the NT.
- The current alcohol harm minimisation approach currently being adopted by the NTG provides a useful foundation from which to build additional and sustained evidence-based responses. These need to span policy, program and service delivery contexts if significant improvements are to be achieved.
- Areas for future investment include:
- Stronger cross-sectoral collaboration;
- A greater focus on preventive efforts;
- Efforts targeted towards the people at greatest risk;
- Significant service system redesign; and
- Innovative approaches that tackle alcohol issues at the grass roots.
- This report indicates that a long-term outlook is required to adequately support the health and safety of the NT community from the harms of alcohol.
Our research has found:
- At a population level it is now estimated that the total social cost of alcohol in 2015/16 was $1,386.8 million, with tangible costs of $701.3 million, and intangible costs of $685.5 million (excluding the lost quality of life due to addiction amongst dependent drinkers and the family members of dependent drinkers).
- At an individual level the estimated total social cost of alcohol in 2015/16 was $3,832.19 in tangible costs per adult resident of the Northern Territory, with intangible costs imposing a further cost of $3,745.75 per adult. This equates to a total estimated impact of $7,577.94 per adult (excluding the costs of alcohol dependence to the dependent drinker and their family).
- At a population level total costs of premature mortality equate to $785,537,761 including both tangible and intangible costs.
- A summary of the most significant tangible costs includes:
- Total health costs equate to $100,177,195
- Total road crash costs equate to $57,626,900 (excluding mortality and hospital separations)
- Total quantifiable costs of crime equate to $272,577,240
- Total child protection costs equate to $170,912,745
- A summary of the most significant intangible costs includes:
- Intangible costs of premature death of $652.5 million
- Intangible costs of permanent impairment from road crash injuries of $17.1 million
- Intangible costs of crime (e.g. pain and suffering, reduced feeling of safety) of $15.9 million
- In addition, the following estimations have been made regarding the impact of alcohol on the Northern Territory in 2015/16:
- There were an estimated 141.9 net premature deaths caused by alcohol.
- Crime caused by alcohol accounted for $75.9 million of police time while the total costs of alcohol attributable crime are just under $142 million.
- Alcohol is estimated to be responsible for between 4.5 per cent and 11 per cent of cases of child abuse and neglect, creating costs of $8 million to $20 million in increased child protection spending by the NT Government, and imposing lifetime costs of $62 million to $384 million on the victims of child abuse and neglect.
- Almost fifty per cent of road crash deaths, and twenty per cent of serious injury crashes are attributable to alcohol.
Project manager
Contact info
Project dates
Completed.
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Smith, J., Whetton, S. & d’Abbs, P. (2019). The social and economic costs and harms of alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory. Darwin, Menzies School of Health Research.