Alcohol continues to play a major role in many parts of Australian society and is central to many family celebrations, commemorations and work gatherings.

But unfortunately, alcohol also causes 4.6% of the nation’s total disease burden (compared with 9% for tobacco), as well as one-third of the health burden as a result of road traffic collisions.¹

The festive season may provide an ideal opportunity to talk to your patients about alcohol use.

The 2009 NHMRC national guidelines on alcohol use highlight that the lifetime risk of drinking alcohol increases with the amount consumed.²