Regional variation in alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory

Objective: To identify any regional variation in per capita consumption of alcohol and the types of beverages consumed in the NT; and to estimate the relative contributions to consumption by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peop le. Method: Per capita consumption estimates were based on wholesale purchases of alcohol by licensee and Census population data. Mean levels and the perc entages of each beverage type consumed were compared between regions and th rough time. Estimates of per capita levels of consumption between Aborigina l and non-Aboriginal segments of the population were based on reports of th e proportion of frequent and occasional drinkers in each group and the rati o of consumption among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal drinkers. Results: Mean quarterly per capita consumption was higher in both the Lower Top End (4.22 litres) and the Central NT (4.04 litres), and less in the Ba rkly (3.44 litres) than in the Top End (3.55 litres). Over the four-year pe riod, consumption in the Top End rose 6.4%, but dropped 22.5% in the Barkly . In the Lower Top End and the Central NT a larger percentage of alcohol wa s consumed as cask wine than in the Top End. Before licensing restrictions were introduced, this was also the case iri the Barkly. In the NT, per capi ta consumption among Aboriginal people is approximately 1.97 times, and amo ng non-Aboriginal people about 1.43 times, the national average. Conclusions: Alcohol consumption in the NT is greater than in Australia as a whole and there is significant regional variation. The problem is not sim ply an Aboriginal problem, and a broad range of strategies including a comp onent to address regional variation - is required to reduce it.