Bid to curb binge drinking

ACON has teamed up with the organisers of FebFast to address binge drinking among young same-sex attracted people.

FebFast invites people to sacrifice their alcohol intake during the shortest month of the year, and at the same time, raise funds to support organisations working to reduce alcohol and other drug related harms in young people through research, prevention and service delivery activities.

ACON is one of eight organisations from across the country that FebFast has decided to partner with in 2009.

ACON CEO Stevie Clayton said ACON would receive $50,000 to address binge drinking among GLBT youth via a series of workshops and the creation and distribution of education resources.

ACON is extremely grateful to be the recipient of this first round of FebFast funding, Clayton said.

Youth binge drinking is as much an issue among GLBT youth as it is for youth in the general population.

Risky drinking behaviour can result in poor decision-making regarding unsafe sex or being involved in incidents of physical or emotional abuse.

Through our GLBT Youth Binge Drinking Reduction Project we’ll be raising awareness of the issue and sharing knowledge and skills that will enable young GLBT people to make healthy and informed choices about their drinking.

We’ll also be providing tools and strategies to assist young GLBT people to reduce risky drinking behaviour and reduce the subsequent impacts and harms that can result from binge drinking.”

Clayton said the program will encourage young GLBT people to participate in activities that are not focused around licensed venues and/or drinking, and will benefit the long term health of the GLBT community by reducing the onset of alcohol related disease, lower hospital admissions and change the normative perception of binge drinking within the GLBT community.