Alcohol: a performance impairing drug

Number 8.5 December 2009
for a general audience

Introduction

Alcohol is the most widely used mood-changing drug in Australia. Alcohol can be an enjoyable part of life and having a drink is often part of relaxing with friends, celebrating or commiserating. However, alcohol is also a significant cause of injury and ill health, violence, crime, family breakdown, road accidents, loss of productivity in workplaces and death in Australia.

The 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey of Australians aged 14 years and over found that:

• Just over 10% drank at levels that increased their risk of alcohol-related harm in the long-term.
• Over 25% drank at levels that increased their risk of alcohol-related harm in the short-term, at least once a month.

This fact sheet outlines some of the ways that alcohol can affect sporting performance and provides some strategies that can be used to minimise the risk of harms.

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