• Anna L Bowring, Judy Gold, Paul Dietze, Maelenn Gouillou, Caroline van Gemert, and Margaret E Hellard.
• Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia. annab@burnet.edu.au
• Drug Alcohol Rev. 2012 Mar 1; 31 (2): 213-23.

Introduction And AimsYoung people are at high risk of alcohol-related harm and injury. This study assessed awareness of the 2009 Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol, understanding of alcohol-related risks and drinking behaviours among young people.Design And MethodsWe recruited participants (16-29 years) from a music festival in Melbourne, Australia, January 2010. Participants self-completed a risk behaviour questionnaire which included questions regarding the 2009 guidelines. Characteristics associated with awareness of the guidelines and accurate understanding of a 'safe' number of drinks to avoid long-term harm and injury (defined as a maximum of two drinks daily and four drinks on a single occasion, respectively) were examined using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsOf 1381 participants, only 32% were aware of the 2009 guidelines, but the majority had an accurate understanding of the safe number of drinks to avoid long-term harm (74%) and injury (71%). Nonetheless, many reported drinking behaviour with risk of long-term harm (22%) or injury (54%). Participants with lower-risk drinking behaviours were more likely to have an accurate understanding of the safe number of drinks to avoid harm. Males and participants without post-high school education were significantly less likely to be aware of the guidelines and/or have an accurate understanding of alcohol-related risks (P < 0.05).Discussion And ConclusionsAlthough raising awareness of alcohol-related risks may promote reduced alcohol consumption, many young people reported consuming alcohol at harmful levels despite having an accurate understanding of alcohol-related risks. Multiple approaches to reducing alcohol-related harm in young people should be considered.© 2011 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

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