About one-fifth of the Shoalhaven are deemed heavy drinkers and/or smokers.
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The data from the Mitchell Institute has revealed 18.8 per cent of people who live in the Shoalhaven Local Government Area drink at 'risky' levels. This is people over 15 years of age who have reported average alcohol consumption of more than two standard drinks per day over the past year.
Alarmingly, more people admit to smoking with 21.6 per cent of the population self-reported smokers. This is people who are over 14 years old and at the time of interview said they were a current, daily or at least once a week.
The Shoalhaven has the lowest rate of drinkers on the South Coast, compared to Eurobodalla, Kiama and the Bega Valley.
Bega Valley reports 23.3 per cent of people are categorised as heavy drinkers. In Eurobodalla 21.9 per cent of people also fit this category. Kiama is in between with 22.4 per cent of people reporting more than two standard drinks a day.
As far as smoking goes, around one-fifth of people on the South Coast are smokers. In the Bega Valley, 20.3 per cent of people smoke at least once-a-week.
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In Eurobodalla 22.9 per cent of people smoke. Interestingly, the number is significantly lower in Kiama, with just 15.9 per cent of people admitting to smoking.
The Mitchell Institute at the Victorian University reported 18.2 per cent of Australians are deemed 'heavy' drinkers.
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The 2025 target is 16.1 per cent. The same data reports 16.1 per cent of the population are smokers, the 2025 target is 5 per cent.
The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends no more than two standard drinks a day and to avoid binge drinking.
It is advised to have two alcohol-free days every week and to choose low-alcohol drinks.
The Cancer Council advises people that the combined effects of smoking and alcohol greatly increase the risk of cancer.
Up to 75 per cent of cancers of the upper airway and digestive tract can be related to alcohol and smoking.
This data was accumulated from Australia's Health Tracker (July, November 2016). Australian Health Tracker by area is part of a series of resources to help provide a comprehensive assessment of the health of Australians in relation to chronic diseases and their risk factors.
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