The Australian organization, the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation, recently teamed with the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia (DSICA) to conduct a survey that yielded more than 1,000 respondents; the finding were startling, roughly 80% of Australians surveyed believed there is a national drinking problem.  That almost a 20% increase from the same survey that was given last year, which resulted in a 63% acknowledgment of a national drinking problem.

ABC Australia reported that Scott Wilson, the chairman of The Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation said, “The swing in attitude can be largely attributed to government efforts to put binge drinking on the national agenda.”  In short, a new government initiative to raise awareness of binge drinking has been effective.  However, it seems that the government may have to step up there efforts as, “Almost 100 per cent of respondents agreed the responsibility to help communities with alcohol problems should be shared between governments, alcohol manufacturers, alcohol retailers, individuals and the health and not-for-profit sector,” according to ABC Australia.