Scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki to take part in Respect Yourself campaign

4/3/98

Australia's King of Science and media personality Dr Karl Kruszelnicki will spread the State Government's latest public health message to Western Australians - Think Before You Drink.

Health Minister Kevin Prince, who today launched the eighth consecutive Respect Yourself campaign for WA, said Dr Karl's high profile, particularly among the 18 to 29-year-old target group, would greatly assist in communicating the harmful effects of binge drinking.

This latest Respect Yourself campaign, which will include public education messages through the media, focuses on planning for a night out and provides strategies to avoid binge-drinking.

"We will be targeting men and women aged 18 to 29 years of age who binge drink and are considering reducing this habit," Mr Prince said.

"Research shows these people want to drink less in a social situation but do not actually drink less due to a lack of planning, lack of skills or lack of self-belief in their ability to succeed.

"The message we are spreading is plan ahead, if you are going to drink do so in moderation and there are some strategies you can use during the night."

Mr Prince said between 1990 and 1994 alcohol-caused deaths among people under 30 accounted for almost 25 per cent male deaths and 13 per cent of females.

Young people aged 15 to 35 years of age were also the group most likely to be hospitalised for an alcohol-caused injury.

A variety of television and radio advertisements promoting the Think Before You Drink message will go to air shortly.

As part of the campaign, a Drinkcheck health information stand staffed by police and students of the department's Health Promotion Unit will be promoted in licensed venues.

Patrons will be able to volunteer to have their blood alcohol concentration tested and answer a brief questionnaire which indicates low-risk, hazardous and harmful levels of drinking.

People will learn the association between how much is drunk, its effect on blood alcohol concentration and expected types of harm associated with that level of drinking.

A range of other campaign resources will also be distributed throughout the community.

"While previous Respect Yourself campaigns were designed to raise awareness of the negative effects of binge drinking, this phase will take a more positive outlook by providing strategies for keeping alcohol consumption under control," Mr Prince said.

The campaign's change of direction is the result of research undertaken by the Health Department of WA in collaboration with Professor Rob Donovan from the University of WA.

"The work has involved a comprehensive review of national and international research culminating in a communication framework for reducing excessive alcohol consumption - the first of its kind in Australia," the Minister said.

Two other alcohol public education programs, 'Drinksafe' for the over 29-year-olds and '100% Control' for secondary students, complement the Respect Yourself campaign.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 08 9221 1377 or Taryn Black 08 9222 4043