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Graduate encourages end to binge drinking
A University of the Sunshine Coast graduate is using skills developed in his degree to shift Australia’s dysfunctional drinking culture.
Chris Raine, who graduated from USC in 2008 with a Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations and Marketing), said he was delighted with the snowballing effect of his community blog, “Hello Sunday Morning”.
It has grown from an individual blog into a website where more than 75 people are undergoing the program that encourages a three-month minimum break from alcohol. Through their networks, the message now reaches more than 9,000 Aussies.
Caloundra born-and-bred Mr Raine, a former marketing manager at a Coast tavern, discovered how to enjoy a fun, happy and full life without alcohol when he abstained for a year in 2009.
He now hopes the program will help others achieve their personal goals and create a healthier relationship with alcohol.
The 23-year-old moved to Melbourne in February to pursue a career in communications, targeting dysfunctional drinking. He has started a consultancy called Groundswell Communications and clients include Macquarie University.
“Hello Sunday Morning started as a social experiment for research but I realised it went a lot deeper into my own psychology and our Aussie culture of binge drinking,” Mr Raine said.
“When you don’t drink, it brings into question what you do with your time.
“This isn’t about staying home and being boring. It’s about confronting situations and accruing skills so you can drink responsibly in a social way.”
Other USC students and alumni are among those joining the program from across the nation and the world. The average age is mid-20s and their candid journeys are posted online.
Mr Raine said he now felt free of the drinking lifestyle and able to choose when to enjoy alcohol in moderation.
He said he made the initial decision to abstain after experiencing personal issues while at University.
“I decided to risk trying to succeed. I got involved in USC activities such as the SIFE business club and got a fantastic internship at the Fresh advertising agency in Brisbane,” he said.
“I networked with tutors and really invested my time well at USC by the time I graduated. Now my degree is paying off and I’m helping other people.”
– Julie Gatehouse