Statistics and Indicators

In 2017, 20.6% of secondary students surveyed who had consumed an alcoholic drink in the past week ('current drinkers') reported that they never intended to get drunk. While more male 'current drinkers' (24.8%) than female 'current drinkers' (15.0%) reported that they never intended to get drunk, the difference was not statistically significant. 

The 2009 NHMRC Australian drinking guidelines recommend no alcohol consumption as the safest option for people under 18. 

Please note that this indicator was updated in 2022 and replaces all previous versions. 

The following estimates have a relative standard error between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution:

2011, 2014 and 2017 females who reported they never intended to get drunk
2011 females who reported they intended to get drunk a few times
2014 and 2017 males who reported they intended to get drunk sometimes
2014 males who reported they intended to get drunk most times
2014 persons who reported they intended to get drunk every time
2011 and 2014 males who reported they intended to get drunk every time
2011 females who reported they intended to get drunk every time

The following estimates have not been published due to a relative standard error greater than 50% or small numbers:

2014 males who reported they intended to get drunk a few times
2017 males who reported they intended to get drunk every time

For the purpose of reporting the Australian Secondary Students' Alcohol and Drug survey data on HealthStats, if the 95% confidence intervals of the estimates do not overlap, they are considered to be significantly different.