Only one in four West Australians drink to cope with stress compared to almost one in three people living on the east coast, according to a new survey.
The FebFast national survey also revealed some eye-opening disparities of the well-known phenomena of “beer gogglesâ€.
The survey polled 1,009 Australians aged between 20 and 69 who drink alcohol and found a third (30 per cent) of Australians felt more attractive while drinking.
The survey also revealed around one in four (23 per cent) believed other people found them attractive.
However, 70 per cent of survey participants did not find people who have been drinking attractive.
FebFast patron and social commentator Sarah Wilson spoke of the perceptions around drinking and how they were linked to feeling good.
‘We’ve been lulled into thinking drinking makes us feel better, more at ease. Many of us drink to avoid feeling nervous or bored, and to quash end-of-day agitation. It lubricates social occasions,’ Wilson said.
‘But many of us don’t know what it feels like to be comfortable socially without the crutch alcohol provides. Not until you have taken some time off the booze do you get a glimpse of it.’
Tomorrow kicks off FebFast, a month-long fast from alcohol to raise awareness and much needed funds for support programs for young people with alcohol and other drug problems.
Proceeds raised will go to Mission Australia’s WA branch as well as a number of other support services around the country.
For more information, visit www.febfast.org.au
OIP staff writers
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