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SimDrink: Using simulation modelling to perform alcohol policy experiments

Acute harms experienced by young, heavy alcohol drinkers, such as verbal aggression, being sick from drinking too much or having difficulty getting home after a night out are topics of significant public health concern. Although policies are often proposed to minimise these harms, there is rarely any evidence available to support their effectiveness.

Computer-based simulation models have been found to be effective, cutting-edge research tools. They are increasingly being used to compare hypothetical policies to help decide what is likely to be the most effective and why this is the case.

‘SimDrink’ is a simulation model of a population of 18-25 year olds engaging in heavy sessional drinking on a night out in Melbourne.

It has been purposefully designed to provide a means for conducting alcohol policy experiments to inform policy decisions.

2015-2017

Associate Professor Nick Scott

Please contact Associate Professor Nick Scott for more information about this project.

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Partners +
Collaborators

  • Dr Michael Livingston, Centre for Alcohol Policy Research
  • James Wilson, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University
  • Dr Aaron Hart, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University
  • Professor David Moore, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University

Project
Team

Meet the project team. Together, we are translating research into better health, for all.

Publications

VIEW ALL RESEARCH
Using simulation modelling to examine the impact of venue lockout and last-drink policies on drinking-related harms and costs to licensees.

Scott N, Livingston M, Reporter I, Dietze P

  • Australian and New Zealand journal of public health
  • 28 Feb 2017
The effects of extended public transport operating hours and venue lockout policies on drinking-related harms in Melbourne, Australia: Results from SimDrink, an agent-based simulation model.

Scott N, Hart A, Wilson J, Livingston M, Moore D, Dietze P

  • The International journal on drug policy
  • 27 Feb 2016