National Health and Medical Research Council Guidelines

Australia’s long-established NHMRC Guidelines have been highly conservative in terms of the guidelines of comparable countries.

The 2009 guidelines have also spawned a change in definition of ‘binge’ drinking, becoming any occasion with more than four standard drinks.  GPs have made their own decisions as to terminology, causing further confusion and resulting in poor recognition of the NHMRC Guidelines.

Because of this a large proportion of the population (including many GPs) choose to ignore the current 2009 guidelines.

In place of these restrictive public health approaches to alcohol consumption the industry would like to see guidelines developed by health experts without a broader alcohol control agenda, and in a format the public can accept as realistic and practical advice.  This should include new guidelines on single occasion drinking that better reflects obvious differences in capacity between different population groups, so as to better engage and educate consumers.

For industry media comment regarding this issue please contact Alcohol Beverages Australia

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