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A study investigating Australia's alcohol drinking patterns has shown underage binge drinking has declined, however, Australians in their middle age have shown signs of increasingly problematic drinking.
Australian researchers used data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Drug Strategy Household Survey ( 2001 to 2013) which involved more than 120,000 respondents.
"Young people have sharply reduced their drinking over the last decade. In particular Australian teenagers are drinking less alcohol, and in less risky quantities," report of author Dr Michael Livingston said on Wednesday.
The current 2013 data, released on Wednesday, shows the number of 14-17 year-old Australians reported drinking 20 or more standard alcoholic drinks in a session at least once in the last 12 months had halved since 2001.
More then half (57.3 percent) of 14-17 year-old Australians were abstaining from drinking altogether, compared with 28 percent in 2001.
The decline in underage drinking has also been seen in the United Kingdom, Sweden and New Zealand.
However, rates of heavy alcohol drinking have remained stable among young Australian adults (18-29), while increasing among Australia's older populations.
Michael Thorn, chief executive of Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education -- which funded the study -- said the reasons could relate to a growing focus on healthy living and public health programs.
"Young people are leading the way in changing Australia's relationship with alcohol, but there remain too many drinking at risky levels that put them and others in harm's way," Thorn said.
"There is no level of safe drinking for those aged under 18, as alcohol can damage the developing brain, so it is extremely pleasing to see such a positive and significant shift in young people's drinking patterns."
