Doing Something Good collaborated with Vic Health to facilitate a 1 Day Forum that explored ways to shape a better alcohol culture in Victoria. We bought together researchers, healthcare providers, changemakers, venue owners, youth workers, service design professionals, social entrepreneurs, policy makers, behaviour change specialists, and representatives from organisations working on youth and mental health issues. The Forum gave participants the opportunity to connect, learn, exchange useful information and provide a space for conversations that matter. The format incorporated innovative methodologies including World Café and Open Space with an opening keynote presentation and 10 Lightning Talks throughout the day. Find more on the Discovery & Insights Forum at http://doingsomethinggood.com.au/vichealth-innovation-challenge-alcohol-discovery-insights-forum/ Learn more about the VicHealth Innovation Challenge Alcohol at http://challenge.vichealth.vic.gov.au/challenges/alcohol/

1. Young adults in Melbourne
talking about their ideal state of
intoxication
Sarah MacLean1&2
1 Centre for Heath Equity, University of Melbourne,
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2 Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Turning Point,
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

2. Attitudes towards intoxication
Social Research Centre (2010). 2009 Victorian Youth Alcohol and Drug Survey Final Report.
Melbourne, Victorian Drug and Alcohol Prevention Council.

3. Ideal state of intoxication
• Maybe a bit more relaxed, a bit freer, a bit – I
would say just more, … more relaxed and
excitable (Scarlett, 23, female).
• I’m one of the kind of person that don’t actually
like to get really drunk, just because I like to
have conversations with people… it’s my
relaxing time, now I don’t have to worry about
uni, I don’t have to worry about working, I’m just
gonna… have a laugh with my friends, tell silly
stories and have a few drinks (Elke, 24, female, high risk
drinker).

4. Ideal state of intoxication
• I’m more social when I have a bit of a drink. Even
if it’s not like a big, big drink. So either way I’m still
gonna feel it, so I’ll be happy. I don’t really need
that big drink (Susana, 24, female, high risk drinker)
• I don’t like it [being drunk], especially, there’s no
self control. When I’m tipsy there is self control,
I’m just, I’m just more open to things more, more
friendly, more hyper… I just drink for that tipsy
stage (Arif, male, 21, high risk drinker).

5. But very few counted standard drinks
• I never count how many drinks I have. I never
think okay I’ve had 16 standard drinks that’s
my limit because there’s other things that
affect it as well. I can sort of feel that ‘Okay if I
have another… like if I drink a shot I’m not
gonna feel good afterwards, I’m gonna be
drunk, a little bit drunk and then I’m gonna be
throwing up’, or something like that. And so I
think after a few years of drinking I’ve learnt
when that point is. It’s still hard to define
exactly (Ryan, 23, male, high risk drinker).

6. Most people monitored how they were feeling
to assess how drunk they were
• I get head spins and then like I feel like I’m
gonna throw up. But I don’t throw up then, I
just stop [drinking] (Kara, 19, female, high risk drinker).
• I can sort of just see if I’m starting to feel a bit
more tired. And then I’m like ‘Nah there’s no
point’. I’m not really enjoying [drinking]
anymore so …that’s it (Dragan, 22 male, HRD).
• Sometimes the taste, the taste kind of gets to
me … The taste starts tasting a bit funny for
me. So yeah, I go ‘Oh shit, I’ve drunk too
much now’ (Paul, 23 male).

7. Small proportion of people never feel that
they’ve had too much alcohol
• I start drinking you know cos it’s good, it feels
good, you know. It feels right, everyone’s
drinking having a good time. Then when I feel
like I’m pissed, probably after like about 12
cans, 13 cans, I get like anxiety. I just start to
feel pissed so I drink more. And I feel better.
(Andy, 18 male, high risk drinker)
• With alcohol for some reason you just keep
drinking and drinking and drinking and you
don’t realise until you’re conked out. (Yusef, 20,
male, high risk drinker)

8. How do we support people to moderate their
drinking?
• Education advising people to wait half
an hour until their last drink is absorbed;
• We need various responses directed at
different types of drinkers;
• Restrictions on availability remain
critical for those who find it hard to
regulate drinking.
Zajdow, G & MacLean, S (in press) ‘I just drink for that
tipsy stage’: Young adults and embodied management of
alcohol use. Contemporary Drug Problems.

9. Thanks to
• Mutsumi Karasaki and Christine Siokou for
conducting some of the project interviews
• Robin Room and David Moore
• Funding from the Australian Research Council for
ARC Linkage grant (LP 100100017), VicHealth and
the Victorian Department of Health
• Other project partners: the National Drug Research
Institute, Hume City Council, Yarra City Council and
the Municipal Association of Victoria.