Alcoholism is a brain disease, not a choice.

Australians may agree. Their country Australia has had a problem with alcohol consumption, which has led to other types of abuse. “An online poll commissioned by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (Fare) also found 92% of Australians believe alcohol is linked to domestic violence,” a BBC News article states.

A night of drinking can lead to poor choices, so the poll’s not surprising. However, what’s surprising is the amount of people who believe Australian men and women suffer from alcoholism. “78% of respondents believe Australia has a problem with excess drinking or alcohol abuse. 44% of Australian drinkers consume alcohol to get drunk – up from 37% in 2016,” the article continues. The problem’s burgeoning, but people have yet to find a solution. Since alcohol’s an integral part of their lives, drinking is that much harder to avoid. However, the country needs an intervention. “The World Health Organization ranks Australia 19th on the global alcohol consumption ladder, ahead of Ireland at 21,” the article relays. What do the experts have to say? A warning.

Michael Thorn, the chief executive of FARE, urges Australians to think about the uglier side of drunken nights on the town. They could potentially die from drinking too much beer, wine, and/or liquor. He wants people to put down their bottles, but he also wants them to seek reform. “We know what the solutions are. Fix the way alcohol is taxed, reduce its availability, and cut back on the way it is promoted including phasing out sports sponsorship,” he tells BBC News. Healing can only begin if people take the first step, which is to realize and accept their problem.

There’s no shame in being an alcoholic, but there’s shame in keeping the sickness a secret.