Booze message that bites

Images of people slouching against walls and kneeling before toilet bowls have appeared in LGBT venues in Queensland as part of a fight against binge drinking.

The Booze Bit Me campaign by Healthy Communities is attempting to highlight the effects of excessive alcohol consumption and provides information, support and referrals to people wanting to reduce or better manage their drinking.

“Booze Bit Me is a website where people can take a short test to measure their alcohol intake, and share the results with friends,” alcohol, tobacco and other drugs coordinator Shane Garvey said.

“The website also contains information and support, a section on how to plan a party and being a good party host, and even tips on how to avoid a hangover.”

The website is being promoted in LGBT bars and sex-on-premises-venues throughout Queensland, with life-size stickers of people in a state of intoxication installed in toilets with the website printed on their T-shirts.

“We received overwhelming support from the participating LGBT venues and without them, the campaign would have not been possible,” Garvey said.

“Initial reaction from the general LGBT public has been positive, with some of the stickers being ‘souvenired’ by patrons.”

The campaign is in response to growing evidence that LGBT people are drinking at higher levels than their heterosexual counterparts.

The 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey report found 28.6 percent of homosexual/bisexual people drank at risky levels over their lifetime compared to 20.3 percent of heterosexuals.

It also found that 24.5 percent of homosexual/bisexual people had also drunk at risky levels on single occasions (at least weekly) compared to 15.9 percent of heterosexuals.

While the report did not include transgender levels of drinking, research indicates that transgender people could be drinking at even higher rates.

Healthy Communities is funded by Queensland Health to deliver alcohol, tobacco and other drug health promotion services to LGBT people in Queensland.

INFO: www.boozebit.me