The 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (AIHW) was used to estimate how much alcohol was consumed at risky levels for health in Australia. Thirty nine percent of all alcohol was consumed at levels which posed health risks in the long term. By comparison, 51% of all alcohol posed short-term health risks to drinkers. Proportions of Australian’s drinking in excess of NHMRC drinking levels are also presented by age and sex. Young people aged under 25 years had the riskiest drinking patterns.