Revenant
06-19-2009, 09:22 AM
People in the Northern Territory drink almost 50 per cent more alcohol than those in the rest of the country, the Territory's health department says.
While the average person in Australia drinks 9.83 litres of pure alcohol a year, Territorians consume an average 14.5 litres per person, a budget estimates hearing in Darwin was told last night.
The Health Minister, Kon Vatskalis, says the numbers mean the Territory has close to the heaviest drinking culture on the planet.
"We even beat the Irish and the Czechs, who only drink about 13 litres of pure alcohol a year," he said.
"We're doing extremely well. We're really pickled."
He added that it was "nothing to be proud of", noting that alcohol-related problems cost the Territory almost $600 million a year.
"The overall cost to the Northern Territory economy of all alcohol-related harm in 2004-05 from death, disease, lost productivity and crime-related cost is estimated at $595.9 million, or approximately $2883 per person."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/18/2601511.htm
While the average person in Australia drinks 9.83 litres of pure alcohol a year, Territorians consume an average 14.5 litres per person, a budget estimates hearing in Darwin was told last night.
The Health Minister, Kon Vatskalis, says the numbers mean the Territory has close to the heaviest drinking culture on the planet.
"We even beat the Irish and the Czechs, who only drink about 13 litres of pure alcohol a year," he said.
"We're doing extremely well. We're really pickled."
He added that it was "nothing to be proud of", noting that alcohol-related problems cost the Territory almost $600 million a year.
"The overall cost to the Northern Territory economy of all alcohol-related harm in 2004-05 from death, disease, lost productivity and crime-related cost is estimated at $595.9 million, or approximately $2883 per person."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/18/2601511.htm