SYDNEY, April 7 (Xinhua) -- A new study from the Royal Life Saving Society in Australia revealed an alarming statistic on Friday that found almost 500 Australian men, in the last decade from 2006 to 2016, died in alcohol-related drownings.
The figure means alcohol has been a factor in one quarter of all water-related male deaths in Australia over the past 10 years.
"To be honest, the number is not that surprising because it's well known that men are more likely to die from avoidable deaths," author and men's health expert Glen Poole told Xinhua.
"And unfortunately we also know that men are more likely to have issues with alcohol abuse and partake in risky behavior."
To address the issue, the Royal Life Saving Society has launched a national campaign with federal government funding called Don't Let Your Mates Drink and Drown.
"It's a really good thing (the Royal Life Saving Society) are putting the spotlight on this," Poole said.
"Its great to see the issue being raised, because we tend to be collectively more tolerant of male deaths, whether that is death by suicide, death by violence, or death by drowning."
The program will aim to highlight and warn men in Australia about the dangers of mixing alcohol with water activities.
"For many Australian men, an esky full of stubbies is just as important on a fishing trip as the bait, or than checking the conditions before swimming," said David Macallister, chief executive officer of the New South Wales Royal Life Saving Society.
"This culture of drinking while swimming, boating or fishing means men are at greater risk of drowning."
Surprisingly, the findings of the report detailed that men most at risk of alcohol related drowning are not teenagers or those in their 20s, but middle-aged men from 35 to 55.
"They're typically parents, people with older children, who are also coming into that age where alcohol consumption is being undertaken and that's where the campaign is really looking at influencing those individuals to look after each other," a Royal Life Saving Society spokesperson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
