Just received some very interesting information that The Salvation Army Australia (both the Southern and Eastern Territories) put out in regards to Australia's Alcohol Culture that I thought some of you might be interested in. It's called The Salvation Army Alcohol Culture Initiative Learning Module. So over the next few weeks, along with some of the Corps Cadets info I'm going to put up some of this info too. I think you guys will be startled with some of the facts and it might also help explain some of the funny things we do in The Salvation Army such as no drinking etc...
So as you can see when we want to reform society, care for people and transform lives alcohol harm becomes a major concern for us as Salvationists. I think when we work appropriately with alcohol harm we can 'make disciples' as well! So as young Salvationists it's important for us to be educated about alcohol harm and to work hard and smart against it in our communities. As our Commissioner Raymond Finger (the big boss) says, 'The harm is great, but it does not have to be like this.'
The Salvation Army Australian Southern Territory Annual Report, 2011
So what do you think of when you think of the Australian alcohol culture?
How do you think we got there? And does it have to remain the same forever?
Here's some current information about Australia and alcohol;
* Alcohol is the most widely used 'psychoactive' (mind altering) drug in Australia (National Alcohol Strategy)
* Just under one in ten drinkers do so at risky levels that can cause both short and long-term harm to themselves. (Australia's Health 2010)
* Over 450,000 children (13.2 percent) live in places where they are at risk of exposure to binge drinking by at least one adult. (Drug use in the Family: impacts and implications for children)
* More underage drinkers (14-17 year olds, that's you guys) in Australia are being admitted to hospital for alcohol-related problems and the numbers are on the rise. (Toumbourou, 2009)
* Alcohol-related harm costs Australian taxpayers around $36 BILLION a year, this is roughly twice as much as they thought. (The Range and Magnitude of Alcohol's Harm to Others)
* In 2007 the majority of Australians (60.8%) over 14 years old drank more than the recommended rates and we are now know there are even higher levels of risk at even lower levels of consumption of alcohol. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2008)
* Alcohol companies are allowed to advertise electronically to children during sporting events.
* Because some laws are inconsistent virtually any amount of alcohol can be provided to children of pretty much any age, in homes, without parents knowledge or consent in Victoria.
Some pretty heavy stuff but a lot to think about...
I'll give you some more info next week and some scenarios as well that I'm sure you've heard about, if not been involved in yourselves...
Think about it, pray about it! ***
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