Aussies hungover for 90 million hours a month
Australians spend an estimated 91.5 million hours a month in pain as a result of big drinking sessions, new research has claimed.
More than half (52 per cent) of respondents had felt pressured to drink in social situations or risk being considered “un-Australian”, the survey of 1030 drinkers conducted by anti-alcohol abuse group Dry July found.
• Is a month off alcohol really worth it?
• How to know if you are drinking too much
• Aussies have ‘had a gutful of booze ads’
• Alcohol’s benefits ‘harmful propaganda’
One in five took one or more sick days in the past year because of a hangover, and almost half (44 per cent) had skipped social events, even weddings, as a result.
“Our research report has uncovered some sobering facts about the social pressures faced by Aussies when it comes to drinking and the impact of hangovers on our work and social commitments,” Dry July CEO Brett Macdonald said in a statement.
Dry July has encouraged Aussies to give up drinking alcohol for a month to raise funds for those living with cancer.
Most of the respondents found it helpful to use an excuse, such as being the designated driver, pregnant, detoxing or on antibiotics, in order to avoid drinking.
-with AAP.