Irreligious Australia and alcoholism
Atheists and atheistic cultures often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: Atheism and alcoholism).
At least 100 studies suggests religion has a positive effect on preventing alcohol-related problems, researchers Christopher Ellison, Jennifer Barrett and Benjamin Moulton noted in an article in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion on “Gender, Marital Status, and Alcohol Behavior: The Neglected Role of Religion.”[2] See: Atheism and alcoholism
After WWII, Australia has become a very secular country.[3] See also: Irreligion in Australia
According to the Sydney Morning Herald:
| “ | Australia is one of the least devout countries in the Western world, although two-thirds of its population identifies itself as Christian, an international survey comparing religious expression in 21 countries has found.
Religion does not play a central part in the lives of many Australians: 48 per cent of Australians surveyed said they did not partake in personal prayer and 52 per cent said they rarely attended a place of worship for religious reasons.[4] |
” |
In the 2011 Australian census, 22.3% of Australians (or 4,796,787 people) identified themselves as having "no religion" which was more than 3 percent higher (and 1,090,232 people more) than in the 2006 census and was the second largest category.[5] Another 2.014 million (9.4%) were in the "not-stated or inadequately-defined" category: thus more than 31% of Australians did not state a religious affiliation in the 2011 census.[6]
The BBC declared in 2017:
| “ | The vast majority of Australians worry that national drinking habits are excessive, according to new research...
The World Health Organization ranks Australia 19th on the global alcohol consumption ladder, ahead of Ireland at 21, the UK at 25, New Zealand at 31, Canada at 40 and the United States at 48.[7] |
” |
In November 2013, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation indicated:
| “ | ANCD chairman Dr. John Herron says the report shows more work needs to be done to tackle the problem.
"The level of alcohol-related damage occurring in our communities is simply appalling," he said. "The health, social and economic costs associated with alcohol use simply cannot be allowed to continue at the current level." The report found 20 per cent of Australians are now drinking at levels that put them at risk of lifetime harm from injury or disease. ANCD report key findings: Almost 1 in 8 deaths of people aged under 25 is due to alcohol 60% of all police attendances (including 90% of late-night calls) involve alcohol One in 5 hospitalisations of people under 25 are due to alcohol 20% of Australians drink at levels putting them at risk of lifetime harm Almost two thirds of 18-29 year olds drink "specifically to get drunk" One in four Australians reported being a victim of alcohol-related verbal abuse.[8] |
” |
See also
- Australia, irreligion and obesity
- Irreligious Australia and loneliness
- Irreligious Australia and intelligence
- Atheism and alcoholism
- Atheism and health
References
- ↑ One in eight deaths of young Australians attributable to alcohol: National Council on Drugs report By Jane Mower, Updated 19 Nov 2013, 7:28pm
- ↑ The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism
- ↑ Stephanie Painter, Vivienne Ryan and Bethany Hiatt, (15 June 2010). "Australians losing the faith". Newspaper. West Australian Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 15 June 2010
- ↑ God's OK, it's just the religion bit we don't like
- ↑ 2011 Census QuickStats. Australian Bureau of Statistics (30 October 2012). Retrieved on 2013-02-25.
- ↑ Irreligion in Ausralia
- ↑ Australians worry about alcohol abuse, survey says, BBC, 2017
- ↑ One in eight deaths of young Australians attributable to alcohol: National Council on Drugs report By Jane Mower, Updated 19 Nov 2013, 7:28pm
