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People of high socioeconomic status drink more alcohol
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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People with higher socioeconomic status consume more alcohol on average than people with lower socioeconomic status, according to new research from the University of Queensland.
Dr Ben Tscharke, from the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), said the team analysed wastewater samples collected from 50 sites across Australia between 2016 and 2023, covering 50% of the population. The study was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
"We used wastewater analysis to assess long-term trends in alcohol consumption based on socioeconomic status and community remoteness," Dr. Tscharke said.
"We found that alcohol consumption was more pronounced in regional communities and areas with higher socioeconomic status, which includes higher levels of education, income and skilled employment.
"This may be related to a variety of factors including alcohol availability and lifestyle, with Australians with higher socioeconomic status more likely to engage in social activities involving alcohol consumption."
The research team reported that alcohol consumption fell by about 4.5% in major cities and by about 2.5% and 3% in regional and remote areas respectively over the seven-year period.
Study co-author Associate Professor Fong Tai said while Australia had seen a decline in alcohol consumption, it had not been uniform across all population groups.
"We found that the decline in alcohol consumption was more pronounced in cities than in regional and remote areas, while annual reductions were smaller in the most socio-economically deprived areas," Professor Tai said.
"There is a risk that if this trend continues it could increase health inequalities in Australia, so sustained and multifaceted efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm in more deprived areas are needed.
"Policies and prevention work must be properly targeted to these areas to ensure more equitable long-term outcomes."