Risky Drinking in Rural Western Australia

By Jess Baker

ABC Kimberley

Topic: Alcohol

De Grey Station manager Mark Bettini said his crew's drinking habits have improved.

In short:

Research shows many people in Western Australia's north drink too much.

Stress and isolation make people in rural areas drink more.

A Pilbara station manager says younger workers drink less.

People think rural workers drink a lot, and it's partly true.

Western Australia's north has higher rates of risky drinking.

In the Pilbara, 51% of adults drank more than 10 standard drinks a week.

This is compared to 49.2% in the Kimberley and 35.5% across WA.

Alcohol use is high on cattle stations.

Mark Bettini's family took over De Grey Station in 1996.

Long days and social influence made people drink too much.

Mr Bettini said alcohol was a big problem in his crew.

When people are tired, they often drink to relax.

Using alcohol to relax is a hard habit to break.

Mark Bettini is a pastoralist and manager of Bettini Beef.

Remote workers are more likely to drink heavily.

Professor Nyanda McBride said rural areas have higher rates of hazardous drinking.

Factors like stress, isolation, and low income make people drink more.

Financial stress and lack of healthcare also contribute to drinking.

Drinking is often used to cope with problems.

Risky drinking is common in regional and remote areas.

Barriers to healthcare, like distance and lack of knowledge, make it harder to get help.

Farmer Shanna Whan said drinking culture is strong in rural areas.

At her station, alcohol was a big part of social life.

Ms Whan had a bad experience with alcohol.

She was not in a safe environment, and alcohol was everywhere.

Ms Whan was sexually assaulted six times, and alcohol was involved.

Her story is sadly common.

Ms Whan drank more when she worked in agriculture.

She thought drinking was necessary to fit in.

After recovering, Ms Whan started a charity to help rural people with alcohol issues.

Sober in the Country aims to make it okay to say no to alcohol.

The charity has made a big difference, but there's still work to do.

Shanna Whan is trying to change the way people think about alcohol in rural areas.

Change is happening.

Mr Bettini said some crew members drank too much and had to be stood down.

There was damage to the quarters due to excessive drinking.

Spirits were banned for a time because of the problems they caused.

But in recent years, things have improved, and spirits haven't been banned.

Mr Bettini has seen a big improvement in the drinking habits of his younger staff.

The goal is to promote a safe workplace.

Mr Bettini is hopeful that the industry will be safer and stronger in the future.

He thinks the new generation of leaders will be better.

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