Experts warn of increased alcohol harms over the Easter long weekend
Monash University
Heavy alcohol consumption is usually associated with the summer months, not with Easter.
But new analysis of Victorian ambulance data shows that there are regularly more than 500 alcohol-related attendances over the Easter long weekend.
This heightened level of alcohol harm means the upcoming four-day weekend is the equivalent of four successive Saturday nights, and Victorians should consider their alcohol consumption and plan to stay safe as they prepare for Easter.
The analysis reaffirms the findings of other projects led by the National Ambulance Surveillance System (NASS) at Turning Point and Monash University.
VicHealth-funded research into the 2022 calendar year showed that Easter Sunday was the third highest single day for alcohol-intoxication related ambulance callouts, behind only New Year’s Day and AFL Grand Final Day.
Easter Saturday was also in the top twenty individual days for the year.
These higher levels of harm are also reflected in road incident data. In 2022, ambulances attended 15 AOD-related (alcohol and other drugs) road incidents, a big jump from the Sunday average of six.
In total, there were 24,422 alcohol-related ambulance attendances in 2022, indicating how hard it can be to seek help early.
Victorian Coroner Ingrid Giles recently highlighted the impact of alcohol in Victoria in five reports and called for urgent alcohol reform.
And according to Dr Rowan Ogeil, Strategic Lead of the National Addiction and Mental Health Surveillance Unit at Turning Point and a Monash University Senior Research Fellow, the Easter weekend is a good time to reflect on how you and your loved ones consume alcohol.
“It’s important to look after each other, and to keep in mind that support and treatment are effective and available for anyone who is concerned about the impact of alcohol,” Dr Ogeil says.
“Planning transport ahead of time at Easter is vital, especially given the well-established link between alcohol and road accidents.”
Dr Ogeil says that this vigilance is important given the heightened levels of alcohol harm at Easter might surprise people.
“Like a lot of public holidays, Easter is a high-risk time for alcohol harms. But this weekend stands out in the data because most of the days where harms are highest fall during summer,” Dr Ogeil says.
“DirectLine is a statewide first port of call for alcohol counselling and referral in Victoria – and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 888 236.”
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Turning Point is a national treatment, research and education centre that provides leadership in the alcohol and other drug, gambling and mental health sectors. Combining innovative clinical and population health research and expert policy advice with service innovation, surveillance, system enhancements, capacity building and specialist support, Turning Point empowers people, communities, services and governments to respond to current and emerging alcohol, other drug, and gambling harms. Turning Point is part of Eastern Health and is affiliated with Monash University.