Abstract
Both overseas and Australian research has shown that low alcohol beers are predominantly consumed only by drinkers who have a low level of alcohol consumption. Contrary to their beliefs, beer drinkers are not able to distinguish between beers with a different alcohol content. The substitution of low alcohol beer (e.g. 3.7% v/v) for regular beer (5.0% v/v) should give very worthwhile benefits in the areas of traffic safety, crime and alcohol-related morbidity and mortality. It is recommended that for a trial period of three months no regular beer should be sold in a remote community in order that the beneficial effect on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems of substituting low alcohol beer for regular beer can be demonstrated. Assuming that the expected results are obtained, the next step would be to restrict the maximum alcohol content of beer sold in all of Western Australia for a trial period of three or twelve months.
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D.I. Smith
Both authors formerly Public Health Officers, Eastern Sydney Area Public Health Unit Previously general practitioner, Orange NSW, Australia.