Gift-giving contexts and alcohol

There are many situations in which giving a gift or showing a token of appreciation is required—birthdays and anniversaries, public and private celebrations, ceremonies and events.

Bottles of alcohol are often used as gifts that either recognise a person’s appreciation of drinking or else offer a “safe” present that doesn’t require too much investigation into that person’s interests and activities. Alcoholic products are also diverse in price to suit most people’s budgets.

Alcohol: the “safe” gift?

According to the 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 80.5% of Australians over 14 years consumed alcohol at least once over the previous 12 months. The survey also shows that:

• 20.1% drink at levels that put them at risk of harm over their lifetime
• 28.4% drink at levels that put them at risk of harm from a single drinking occasion at least once a month

Given the potential for harms, alcohol is not necessarily an appropriate gift and can be particularly inappropriate in certain contexts, such as:

• events like school functions, where children may be present
• individuals who for health reasons are not able to consume alcohol
• individuals who have a substance dependence problem.

The alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector has a responsibility to model responsible attitudes to alcohol, and part of this can be in the selection of gifts.

Alternative gift ideas

When alcohol is not the appropriate gift for a particular person or context, there are many alternatives that can be similarly appealing and affordable. The examples below could be used for birthdays, dinner parties or public events:

• chocolates or other sweet treats
• gourmet hampers
• “pampering” items such as candles or lotions
• music or books—or gift vouchers for these
• flowers
• vouchers for activities such as films or festivals.

So don’t contribute to Australia’s alcohol consumption statistics. Next time you find yourself heading to the bottle shop for a “safe” gift, think again, and celebrate or show your appreciation with one of these alternative gifts instead.

New posters with the lot

The Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) has been busy creating 3 new resources, which include:

• Aware of amphetamines (a manual produced with Peninsula Health)

Infographic posters:

• Men and substance abuse use: the facts
• Facts about drinking.

The latest resources are available online through the ADF Shop at bookshop.adf.org.au

Dovetail offer conference sponsorship

Queensland-based workers are invited to apply for a scholarship to attend the 2nd National Cannabis Conference in Brisbane in September.

Applications close 5pm Friday 10th August and successful applicants will be notified by Tuesday 14th August 2012. Find out more about the scholarship.

Overdose Awareness Day

International Overdose Awareness Day is held on 31 August each year. It commemorates those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose, it also acknowledges the grief felt by their families and friends.

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