A TASMANIAN coroner has implored state and federal governments to ramp up their efforts to tackle risky drinking following an investigation into four premature deaths. Coroner Olivia McTaggart yesterday published her findings of an examination of the deaths of four Tasmanian men, all aged in their early 50s. One man died from acute alcohol poisoning and another from ethanol intoxication. Two died from obstructed airways after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. "In all four most unfortunate deaths the cause of death is due directly to the ingestion of a very large quantity of alcohol on a single occasion," Ms McTaggart said. "The premature death of each of the four deceased is a loss to their family and the community, and a sad reminder of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption." Ms McTaggart pointed to a dramatic national spike in alcohol-fuelled deaths. She said 5554 Australian deaths were attributed to alcohol in 2010 - a 62 per cent jump compared with the decade earlier. Ms McTaggart acknowledged there were complex reasons as to why each of the four men at the centre of her inquiry consumed alcohol to excess. And she conceded the solution to controlling such levels of consumption was difficult. But Ms McTaggart lamented the fact so few people knew what constituted low-risk drinking. She highlighted there had been no major Commonwealth government initiatives to raise awareness of unsafe drinking and related harm for at least six years. "I recommend that relevant state and federal agencies develop and implement a strategy to significantly increase the awareness in the community," she said.
A TASMANIAN coroner has implored state and federal governments to ramp up their efforts to tackle risky drinking following an investigation into four premature deaths.
Coroner Olivia McTaggart yesterday published her findings of an examination of the deaths of four Tasmanian men, all aged in their early 50s.
One man died from acute alcohol poisoning and another from ethanol intoxication.
Two died from obstructed airways after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.
"In all four most unfortunate deaths the cause of death is due directly to the ingestion of a very large quantity of alcohol on a single occasion," Ms McTaggart said.
"The premature death of each of the four deceased is a loss to their family and the community, and a sad reminder of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption."
Ms McTaggart pointed to a dramatic national spike in alcohol-fuelled deaths.
She said 5554 Australian deaths were attributed to alcohol in 2010 - a 62 per cent jump compared with the decade earlier.
Ms McTaggart acknowledged there were complex reasons as to why each of the four men at the centre of her inquiry consumed alcohol to excess.
And she conceded the solution to controlling such levels of consumption was difficult.
But Ms McTaggart lamented the fact so few people knew what constituted low-risk drinking.
She highlighted there had been no major Commonwealth government initiatives to raise awareness of unsafe drinking and related harm for at least six years.
"I recommend that relevant state and federal agencies develop and implement a strategy to significantly increase the awareness in the community," she said.
