A new report from the Burnet Institute, commissioned by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) has found the number of people, including those in their 30s, diagnosed with alcohol-associated hepatitis has increased in recent years.
It found the rate of alcohol-associated hepatitis increased drastically in Victoria during the COVID-19 pandemic and had since remained elevated.
“The COVID lockdowns, which were particularly severe in Victoria, clearly contributed [to alcohol consumption]”…
“I suspect we would find similar effects across Australian states and territories.”
“Between 2017 and 2024, around 40 per cent of admissions for alcohol-associated hepatitis occurred in people under the age of 45,”
While data suggested young people were now drinking less than previous generations… this was not the whole story.
“A smaller number of people are also drinking more, including binge drinking, resulting in harmful alcohol consumption and its adverse consequences,”
Women now account for about one in three cases of alcohol-associated hepatitis in Victoria…
The report found women with alcohol-associated hepatitis were younger, more physically frail and more likely to require an ICU admission than men.
“Women have a smaller body mass, particularly muscle mass, than men and so the amount of alcohol that can lead to harm within the body is lower,”
I wasn’t really familiar with alcohol associated hepatitis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_hepatitis
It still sounds like it requires a significant amount of alcohol. The article basically brushes over the fact most people generally need to have like 8+ drinks per day. This isn’t something you can just stumble into - you need to have a drinking problem.
Having said that it is well known that alcohol is toxic and all the studies about drinking having positive benefits are very selectively presenting the results. There is no healthy level of alcohol - just worse levels.
It does remind me that I sometimes drink too much, although not nearly these kind of levels - just subbed over at !stopdrinking@lemmy.world to keep me on track.
Glad to hear you’re taking steps.
The article points out that
while data suggested young people were now drinking less than previous generations… A smaller number of people are also drinking more, including binge drinking, resulting in harmful alcohol consumption and its adverse consequences."
If I’m not mistaken there is a sub culture of young people who drink shots, and that is very heavy-going on the liver (and a lot else besides).
There are even a few “shot bars” near where i work. Personally i never saw the appeal. I’d much rather drink a few good cocktails over the night.
I like tequila, I sip at it.
Don’t let the bastards get you with their marketing and don’t get sucked in by drinking culture. 😪
My understanding is that legalizing pot in other countries has helped this sad outcome be lessened. Might be time to think about it.
