The Salvation Army’s annual Alcohol Awareness campaign looks this year at why people drink alcohol, have they tried to reduce the amount they are drinking and if they’ve been unsuccessful in that effort, why?

New Roy Morgan Research released by The Salvation Army on Monday, 13 September, concludes the consumption and misuse of alcohol remain major elements of the Australian way of life. It reveals, for example, that 12% of people sometimes drink simply because they want to get drunk (2.1 million people), and that within this overall number one in three 18-24 year olds reported that they sometimes or often consume alcohol because they want to get drunk.

The research estimates more than 7% of people often or sometimes drink alcohol “in order to feel normal” (approximately 1.3 million people).

The research also shows that in the past year 26.5% (approximately 4.8 million people) have deliberately cut down on the amount of alcohol they were drinking at the one time. Nearly 28% (approximately 5 million people) deliberately went without alcohol for a week.

In an encouraging move, The Salvation Army says the new research shows that in the past 12 months, 16% (approximately 2.9 million people) deliberately changed their drinking habits so that at least one day a week was alcohol free.