Today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the latest available data on the Causes of Death in Australia.
The rate of alcohol-induced deaths has increased by 9.1 per cent between 2021 and 2022.
This is the fourth consecutive year that there has been an increase in the rate of deaths from alcohol in Australia and this is the greatest year-on-year increase. This is also the highest rate of deaths in a decade.
The rate of deaths increased from 5.4 deaths per 100,000 to 6.0 deaths per 100,000. There were 1,742 alcohol-induced deaths recorded in 2022, up from 1,578 deaths in 2021.
FARE CEO Caterina Giorgi said:
“This is the fourth year in a row that we’ve seen an increase in the rate of deaths caused directly by alcoholic products, taking this to its highest rate in more than a decade. We don’t want to see this continue.”
“It is absolutely devastating to see the ways that alcoholic products cause so much harm to so many families and communities across Australia. Every person that dies because of alcohol is a life cut tragically short, leaving behind loved ones who will be missing a daughter, son, mother, father, partner, brother, sister, or friend.”
“Behind these deaths are alcohol companies that are experiencing bumper profits at the expense of people’s lives. These companies and their lobby groups fight any attempts to introduce common sense measures to prevent alcohol harm.”
“When every phone is a bottle shop and alcohol companies spend millions of dollars marketing to people who are most at risk and this is left unchecked, we see unacceptably high levels of alcohol harm.”
“The greatest tragedy is that these deaths can be prevented if governments introduce common sense measures to prevent harm, like preventing harmful marketing that targets people who are most at risk, nation-wide awareness-raising campaigns, and addressing the unchecked expansion of alcohol delivery. We also need to ensure that everyone who reaches out for help gets the support they need.”
“Governments across Australia need to be doing more to save lives.”
Support is available by calling the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline (1800 250 015). A full list of support services is available on the FARE website here.
