Drinking Patterns and Attitudes for Young People in Inner-Urban Melbourne and Outer-Urban Growth Areas: Differences and Similarities

Abstract

Despite new patterns of socio-spatial polarisation, cities are generally treated as homogenous places in analyses of alcohol consumption. To inform local alcohol policy, we compared alcohol measures for young people in inner-urban Melbourne and outer-urban growth areas using data from the 2009 Victorian Youth Alcohol and Drug Survey. Young people in inner Melbourne reported more liberal attitudes to drinking than their peers in growth areas. Regular strength beer was more usually consumed in inner Melbourne against premixed spirits in growth areas, and drinking at licensed venues was more usual in inner Melbourne. Respondents below the legal drinking age of 18 in inner Melbourne were more likely to have purchased alcohol and to have consumed alcohol in a licensed premise during the past year. As findings were only slightly altered by adjusting for age, sex and socio-economic status, it is likely that these differences relate to local drinking cultures, alcohol outlet density and the range of leisure activities available for young adults. Measures to reduce heavy episodic drinking through restricting alcohol availability are relevant to both inner and growth area settings. Enforcement of provisions banning alcohol sales to minors is particularly indicated in inner Melbourne. Growth area responses might focus on cautious outlet density planning.

尽管社会-空间分化出现了新模式，但城市在酒精消费研究中一直被视为同质体。我们利用 2009 年“维多利亚青年酒精和药物使用调查”的数据，比较了墨尔本内城区和城外新开发区针对年轻人酒精消费的举措， 期翼藉此为地方酒精消费政策提供一 些信息。墨尔本内城区的年轻人比城外新开发区的年轻人对饮酒抱有 更为开放的态度。在内城区，普通啤酒的消费量较大，而在开发区则是预调酒的消费量较大。墨尔本内城 区年轻人到有执照的酒吧饮酒的几率较大。内城区年龄低于18 岁法定饮酒年龄的答卷者中，过去一年内购 买过酒精制品或到正规酒吧消费酒精制品的人数较多。对年龄、性别和社会经济状况进行调整后，调查结 果仅有微弱改变，可见内城区和开发区的种种差异源自地域性饮酒文化、贩酒地点的密集程度，以及青年 人休闲活动的范畴。通过禁止售酒减少偶尔酗酒的措施，在内城区和开发区都有效果。内城区特别强调禁 止向未成年人售酒的条例，而开发区则更注重控制售酒点密集程度的规划。

Keywords::

• Alcohol
• young people
• peri-urban
• growth area
• outer urban
• inner city
• Melbourne

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by an Australian Research Council grant (LP 100100017). The authors acknowledge financial contributions from VicHealth and the Victorian Department of Health, and in-kind contributions from the National Drug Research Institute, Hume City Council, Yarra City Council and the Municipal Association of Victoria. The authors also thank the project steering committee: Robin Room, David Moore, Brian Vandenberg, Karen Goltz, Elizabeth Blades-Hamilton, Ros Young and Claire Dunn.