It’s the moral panic of the moment: young people binge drinking. And whether you’re panicking yet or not, there’s no denying that it’s one topic that’s getting more than just one night out in the media.

The basic idea of a ‘binge’ is drinking 5 or more (for guys) / 4 or more (for girls) alcoholic drinks in about 2 hours. In March of this year, the Federal Government earmarked $53 million to campaign against binge drinking in young people, a phenomenon that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described as ‘an epidemic’. Health experts had in the past warned that binge drinking was a ‘ticking time bomb’. 

Federal Health Minister Richola Roxon’s solution to the problem was to restore taxes on popular ‘pre-mixed’ drinks – Cruisers, Breezers, et. al – to levels increasing between 30 cents and $1.30 a bottle. Roxon cited statistics saying that numbers of girls slamming the so-called ‘alco-pops’ had increased by 46 per cent since 2000. Roxon also took a shot at the former Howard Government, saying that if they had really cared about the binge drinking situation then they would have never cut the tax in the first place.

But Opposition leader Brendan Nelson soon shot back at Roxon’s statement, calling it an ‘outrageous slur’. Other joined the rebuttal (somewhat more eloquently), pointing out that Roxon’s statistics were flawed, and that the real problem lies with Australia’s culture of casual drinking – and has nothing to do with cost.

The long-term consequences of regular heavy drinking can be a physical and psychological reliance on alcohol, and permanent damage to your brain and liver.