Impact of Lock-out Laws on Binge Drinking Among Young Adults

Effect of lock-out laws impacting “Binge
Drinking” amongst Young People
Student Name: Student ID:
Subject Name: Subject ID:
Date Due: Professor Name:
Page | 1

1.0 Introduction
Young adults between the age of 12 and 20 indulge themselves in varied types of
behaviours (Popovici & French, 2013). A major social challenge arise when young adults
involves themselves in “binge drinking”. It has been estimated that 11% of the young adults
consume a country’s alcohol in any given year. Male young adults drinking 5 or more drinks and
female drinking 4 or more is termed as binge drinking (Wellman et. al., 2014). The scope of this
study analyses project for intervention as lock-out laws that affect binge drinking behaviours
amongst young adults.
2.0 Project Description
The scope of this current project is meant at evaluating ways in which newly applied
lock-out laws in New South Wales is altering binge drinking behavioral patterns amongst young
adults. The project will aim at statistical analysis of data collected from various police stations
across Sydney CBD to understand drinking related violence before and after application of the
law. Majority of violent behaviour takes place after drinking and after 1.30 am. Young adults
cases reported in violence have been seen to be dramatically altered before and after the law. The
project will then aim at correlating diversified data obtained to form findings related to the case.
This will help evaluate impacts of lock out laws on binge drinking behaviours in young adults.
The current problem area that is being diagnosed is binge drinking amongst young
adults has increased significantly with availability of alcohol in pubs, hotels, restaurants, bars
and clubs. In most cases binge drinking has been known to have long term health impacts
(Buchmann et. al, 2009). This rising social issue has to be addressed for a better and healthier
Page | 2

future of young adult population. Underage drinking patterns is a serious public health problem
in Australia, with alcohol being the most widely used material for abuse amongst its youth. It has
been known to pose high amounts of safety and health risks and also has significant behavioral
outcomes on aggressive behaviours, injuries, property damage, violence and even sometimes
deaths. It has been estimated that by the age of 15 years nearly 33% of teens have consumed
almost 1 drink, this factor rises with age as by 18 years of age almost 60% must have consumed
a drink.
3.0 Need and Benefit
Binge drinking has been seen to have various long term health related outcomes.
Research depicts that kids who drink perform poorly in their schools. Such drinking habits have
been known to affect growth, sexual development as well as brain development (Courtney &
Polich, 2009). Excessive drinking during young age have associated outcome later in life term. It
can impact on memory and have physical health consequences as heart problems and obesity. It
has been linked to abdominal fat later in life term and being overweight by lower good
cholesterol in the body (Wells et. al., 2010). Moreover excessive drinking has been associated
with violent behavioral outcomes. All research in the area has been focused on analysing
outcome associated with health of the young individual however there are no literatures that can
demonstrate outcome of behaviour associated with binge drinking behavioral patterns. The scope
of this study will evaluate direct impacts of lock out law on drinking patterns of young adults and
significant demonstration of reduction n in violence related crimes in a particular area.
Page | 3