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"Blinded" by binge drinking
This contribution has been submitted to Webdiary by a student in the Online Journalism unit for the Masters in Media Practice and Masters in Publishing courses at The University of Sydney as part of the unit's assessment. The topics covered in the pieces awaiting publication are interesting – and diverse. We hope that Webdiarists will enjoy reading them, as well as giving these aspiring journalists plenty of constructive commentary.
“Blinded” by binge drinking: Why Australian youths need to take more responsibility for their drinking habits
by Olivia Proud
Smashed. Plastered. Blind. Hammered. Legless. It almost sounds like a car accident. Pissed. Blotto. Shit-faced. No, we are not in the public toilets. It’s just the response we hear so often when we ask how a mate was last Saturday night. Only for a country that seems to take such pleasure in getting drunk, we sure don’t make it sound like too much fun.
So maybe it’s fitting then, that the government is finally taking measures and will spend $53.5 million in the 2008-2009 Federal Budget to help combat binge drinking and its related harms. As a Generation Y member I feel fit to comment on such a matter. Yes, I admit it. In the earlier days I have binged on alcohol, repented, binged again (and so forth) until I reached an epiphany. Drinking does not equal enjoyment.
The Australian Department of Health and Aging National Alcohol Strategy 2006-2009 reports that each year around 3,100 people die as a result of excessive alcohol consumption and around 72,000 people are hospitalised. Not only is binge-drinking costing lives but it is also costing money. Australians are paying $7.6 billion annually for alcohol-related social problems. And that’s not fun for taxpayers either.
In contrast to many frenzied reports in the media, this binge-drinking phenomenon is not a new one. I spoke to Gino Vumbaca, the Executive Director of the Australian National Council on Drugs who explained that binge drinking or drinking to excess has affected Australian society for a number of years. “The difference now is that young people have more of a disposable income than in the past.... It’s also about adult responsibility. In previous generations we’ve settled down, married, have had kids and all that in our 20s... Now late teens and 20s are more about exploring and pushing limits and partying.”
It could also have to do with the fact that we are the generation that has been handed everything on a silver platter. 25 year old
But what happens when getting “smashed” goes wrong? This week The Sydney Morning Herald is covering the sad story of 18-year-old Jessica Loiterton that was raped by a taxi driver while he was driving her home after she had had so much to drink that she passed out. Of course it is not a choice to get raped, but it is a choice to get drunk. Sadly, many young Australians get so “blind”, that they are blind also to the fact they can find themselves in dangerous and life-threatening situations.
There needs to be a cultural shift in how we as Australians think about alcohol. If only we could think like the Italians, who don’t even have a word for ‘hangover’ in their vernacular. But like Vumbuca says, “you can’t import cultural traits. I think what it’s about is exposing the type of culture we have and making people a lot more aware of the culture of intoxication being too closely linked to enjoyment.”
This is what Australians need to start realising. But it can’t just be left up to the government to enlighten us that throwing up on your best friend’s shoe in front of a night club after one too many vodka-red bulls is not the most attractive end to a night. We as individuals need to start taking more responsibility for our short-term actions and come to terms with the fact that there are serious consequences.
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Thenk you Miss Proud
My life is regulated by the law. My jurisprudence is regulated by my theory that law is nothing but rules.
No-one told us your rules until you articulated them. Usual academic stuff-up. I blame your teachers. Yet, I take your point. If that was the task, you performed it. I don't want to do a critique of my life's work; it just happens to be part of the territory.
What is journalism? Good question. I think it is reportage: the communication of discovered material in a concise fashion to others who haven't discovered it yet. That will always involve a certain form of bias in the same way that psychological testing involves inherent bias as most tests are culture specific. If you really want to discuss that aspect, have a chat to Typhoid Fiona, er, Dr Reynolds because it is an area in which she has considerable expertise.
That was what led me to my criticism of your article.
As to the other, what do you know of the history of your University?
The University was founded by a group of Oxbridge/Scots refugees who cobbled together, in inimitable Australian style, the best of both worlds under a motto that no-one can translate properly: Sidere Mens Eadem Mutato. (At least my College got Deo Patriae Tibi right - Paulines, even when pissed, can get their Latin reasonably ship-shape). The University lecturing model was founded on the Scottish system and the Colleges were founded on Oxbridge. Governance was a meld of both, overlaid by typical NSW corruption. A favourite story arises from the Royal Charter establishing the University and giving its students, graduates and graduands the same rights and privileges appertaining to an equivalent status at Oxford or Cambridge. Melbourne has the same privileges. It is why a graduate of either University is entitled to use the style "esq". When you graduate from the University (if you have not already done so) you will be entitled to use the suffix esq. Oddly, most females don't.
The story is that one smart-arse (it would have to be a law student) called during an exam for his entitlement to a pint of Porter. The Senate fined him for not wearing his sword.
What does the plaque say? Go and have a look. It is on the banister on the staircase on the level where the footbridge from Science Road enters the building. Small brass plaque.
The reason it is there is one of the delightful historical aspects of the University. For detail, you can get a copy of the history of the Union but, in short, one of the University's proudest traditions is the way it deals with misogyny. We have the first female graduates in the country particularly in Engineering and Law. Women’s College is, I think, the oldest female non-denominational College in the country.
The academic ex-pats, devoid of any real culture in the new Colony, founded the Union along the lines of the famous Oxford Debating Union. It is one of the reasons the University has such a strong debating tradition. E.R. Holme started it and became Secretary of the Union. Jack Herman who now works as the executive officer of the Press Council was instrumental in having the Old Union Building which Holme built, re-named the Holme Building. (Look up the song: "One Night at large in the Pleasaunce")
In those days there were no women students (bliss) but when they arrived (bliss) they formed their own society. Stroppy cows they were (now why do I think you might have fitted in?) and they eventually got together and adopted Manning House as their headquarters. Sheilas were only allowed into the Union in "Public Areas" or elsewhere by invitation. The sheilas reciprocated. No non-member of the Womens' Union was allowed above level 2 of Manning House. Hence the plaque.
That continued until the amalgamation of the Union and the Womens' Union in 1972.
SWMBO is older than I and still remember only being allowed to attend Union Night debates by invitation. My Dad did his Arts degree late in life so I've been hanging around the University in one way or another since about 1966. I can remember both systems.
So there you go Miss. I hope I have done you proud. Like Webdiary, the University is a very special community and, if I have the time, I shall make sure I come to your graduation. I'll be the fat person in the bow tie in the academic procession.
Poor university student? Well, I am but an impecunious barrister but I can stand you a drink. Lunch on Thursday?
At last
At last, a comment from a student with a bit of spirit. Keep it coming. All those names - I am sure you all have lots to say, so say it, and never mind scratchy old cats or incomprehensible poets.