Western Australian students’ alcohol consumption and expenditure intentions for Schoolies
Michelle I. Jongenelis A C , Simone Pettigrew A , Nicole Biagioni A and Martin S. Hagger A BA School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
B Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Seminaarinkatu 15, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
C Corresponding author. Email: michelle.jongenelis@curtin.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 23(3) 268-271 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY16104
Submitted: 26 August 2016 Accepted: 20 October 2016 Published: 19 December 2016
Abstract
In Australia, the immediate post-school period (known as ‘Schoolies’) is associated with heavy drinking and high levels of alcohol-related harm. This study investigated students’ intended alcohol consumption during Schoolies to inform interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm among this group. An online survey was administered to students in their senior year of schooling. Included items related to intended daily alcohol consumption during Schoolies, amount of money intended to be spent on alcohol over the Schoolies period, and past drinking behaviour. On average, participants (n = 187) anticipated that they would consume eight standard drinks per day, which is substantially higher than the recommended maximum of no more than four drinks on a single occasion. Participants intended to spend an average of A$131 on alcohol over the Schoolies period. Although higher than national guidelines, intended alcohol consumption was considerably lower than has been previously documented during Schoolies events. The substantial amounts of money expected to be spent during Schoolies suggest this group has adequate spending power to constitute an attractive target market for those offering alternative activities that are associated with lower levels of alcohol-related harm.
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