title: Risky drinking among young Australians - causes, effects and implications for GPs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rates of risky drinking among young Australians have increased substantially over the past 2 decades, resulting in significant community concern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the social, cultural and economic contexts that underlie risky drinking among young people and the implications of these for general practitioners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective strategies for reducing alcohol related harm among young people must be developed in the context of the social and cultural forces to which risky drinking is inextricably linked. It is important that GPs not only play the role of health provider (by identifying risky drinking where possible and providing harm reduction advice), but also act as public health advocates, using their position as respected health experts to encourage a shift in alcohol policy, legislation, marketing and promotion.
authors.affiliation: Turning Point and Drug Centre, Eastern Health and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria. amy.pennay@turningpoint.org.au
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pennay
authors.forename: Dan I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Lubman
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maclean
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003469:Culture; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012925:Social Conformity; D055815:Young Adult