Addiction. 2014 Apr 10. doi: 10.1111/add.12524. [Epub ahead of print]

Trends in non-drinking among Australian adolescents.

Livingston M.

Author information

• Drug Policy Modelling Program, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Vic., Australia; Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Fitzroy, Vic., Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Recent evidence suggests that there has been a sharp increase in non-drinking among Australian adolescents. This study aimed to explore the socio-demographic patterns of this increase to identify the potential causal factors.

DESIGN:

Two waves (2001 and 2010) of cross-sectional data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, a large-scale population survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify significant changes over time, with interaction terms used to test whether trends varied by respondent characteristics.

SETTING:

Australia.

PARTICIPANTS:

Respondents aged 14-17 years (n = 1477 in 2001 and 1075 in 2010).

MEASUREMENTS:

The key outcome measure was 12-month abstention from alcohol. Socio-demographic variables including sex, age, income, socio-economic status, state and rurality were examined.

FINDINGS:

Rates of abstention increased overall from 32.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 30.0-35.7%) to 50.2% (95% CI = 46.7-53.6%) (P < 0.01). Abstention increased significantly across all population subgroups examined.

CONCLUSIONS:

A broad change in drinking behaviour has occurred among Australian adolescents in the last decade, with rates of abstention among 14-17-year-olds increasing markedly. Increases in abstention have occurred consistently across a wide range of population subgroups defined by demographic, socio-economic and regional factors.