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 Is New Zealand's consumption of alcohol increasing? Is greater harm arising from that consumption? And are there increasing adverse affects from alcohol on New Zealand society? Media commentary would suggest that this is the case. However the reality is somewhat different.
Following is a collection of 33 realities which put in to perspective where alcohol sits in New Zealand society, and contextualises some of the research data available following a research review/project conducted in 2008. Each reality is supported by the source data, the realities and context speak for themselves.
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01 |
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Myth: Alcohol consumption is rising in New Zealand and has been for decades. |
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Reality: Currently we are drinking about the same amount of alcohol as we did in 1978 - and consumption is lower than it has been at other times in the past 40 years. |
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Consumption has ranged wildly over the past four decades; 7 litres per capita in 1968, 9.7 in 1978, 8.9 in 1988, 7.3 in 1998, and 9.5 in 2008.
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02 |
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Myth: Alcohol consumption in New Zealand has gone up since liquor advertising was permitted. |
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Reality: After almost 30 years of alcohol advertising on television, consumption is unchanged. |
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Television advertising for retail liquor outlets began in 1981.
A 1988 review led to brand advertising limited to after 9.00 pm (reduced to 8.30 pm in 2003) and there are now rules in place that dictate alcohol advertising must not exceed six minutes per hour. The average New Zealand adult spends 2.8 hours per day watching television, of which 37% is from 9.00 pm (i.e. 64 minutes overall) (AGB Nielsen Media Research / Dataline).
On this premise, the average New Zealand adult would see no more than six minutes of alcohol advertising each night.
However, the alcohol-related ads that we watch each night are not all brand-related. Under a "Drinking Moderation Agreement", whatever broadcasters receive in alcohol promotion related advertising revenue in a year, they must rebate a third to the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand and other government departments dedicated to alcohol education the following year. This is then spent on alcohol education advertising. So in essence, what we are exposed to each night is a mix of both alcohol promotion (the Tui ads etc) and alcohol moderation advertising.
As Statistics New Zealand figures have shown, the amount of alcoholic beverages available for consumption (and demanded by consumers) has remained static over the past 20 years and in some years decreased.
So television advertising appears to have had little effect on our overall drinking habits.
This matches the experience internationally, as no country that has introduced alcohol advertising has experienced a rise in alcohol consumption. |
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03 |
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Myth: Alcohol consumption in New Zealand has gone up since liquor licensing was liberalised because it's easier to buy. |
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Reality: The number of places to buy alcohol has more than doubled in the past 20 years, but consumption is unchanged. |
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Since the Sale of Liquor Act was enacted in 1989 the number of liquor outlets has increased substantially. In 1989 there were around 6000 outlets. Today there are 14,197 (Liquor Licensing Authority).
Alcohol consumption in New Zealand is 9.5 litres of pure alcohol per capita (Statistics New Zealand 2008), a little less than the 9.7 litres we drunk 30 years ago, in 1978 (World Drink trends 2005 Edition).
Myth: Alcohol consumption in New Zealand has gone up since liquor licensing was liberalised because it's easier to buy. |
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04 |
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Myth: Alcohol consumption in New Zealand has gone up because it is cheaper. |
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Reality: Alcohol prices have actually increased, mainly due to Government taxes, and this may have contributed to people drinking less. |
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Alcohol consumption has gone down, despite great variation in alcohol prices - some prices have gone up, especially in licensed promises, and some down, especially in supermarkets. |
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05 |
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Myth: Alcohol-related offences have increased dramatically over the past 10 years. |
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Reality: Alcohol related offences have dropped 13% in the past 10 years. |
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In the decade from 1998, "drugs and antisocial" recorded offences per capita have decreased.
In 1998, 1.5% of the population were convicted of alcohol-related offences. But in 2008, this figure dropped to 1.3% (Statistics New Zealand).
This 13% fall has happened despite numerous new laws and tougher enforcement, which might have been expected to raise the number of breaches. So the real improvement in alcohol behaviour has probably been more considerable (Ministry of Justice. 2005. Young People and Alcohol: Some Statistics to 2003 and 2004 on Possible Effects of Lowering the Drinking Age). |
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06 |
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Myth: Most alcohol is consumed in bars and clubs. |
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Reality: More than two thirds of alcohol is consumed at home or at friends' places, not on licensed premises. |
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According to the Alcohol and Public Health Research Unit (APHRU), 39% of men and 45% of women drink at home or at a friend's (17% and 19% respectively) rather than on licensed premises (24% and 20% respectively) (Habgood R, Casswell S, Pledger M, Bhatta K. 2001. Drinking in New Zealand: National Surveys Comparison 1995 & 2000. Alcohol and Public Health Research Unit).
Most people drink more when in their home, or someones else's, than when out.
When it comes to heavy drinking, According to the APHRU, 31% of men tend to heavily drink at home, 27% on licensed premises (pubs / hotels / taverns / nightclubs) and 22% at another person's home. Women tend to drink heavily at home 30% of the time, at someone else's home 23% and licensed premises 23% of the time.
Between 1995 and 2001, both men and women increased the quantities they drank in someone else's home from five to six drinks for men and from three to four drinks for women (Habgood R et al. 2001. Drinking in New Zealand: National Surveys Comparison 1995 & 2000. Alcohol and Public Health Research Unit). |
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07 |
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Myth: Bars and clubs are bad because people go there to get drunk. |
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Reality: People stay at home to get drunk. Licensed premises are the only places where you will be served an accurate "standard serve" drink, and where it is illegal for you to get drunk. At home and in public people drink more, and more heavily, and are allowed to be drunk. |
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In New Zealand, a standard drink contains 10g (or 12.67 ml) of absolute (pure) alcohol, regardless of volume (Alcohol Advisory Council, 2004. Leaflet: The Straight-Up Guide to Standard Drinks).
BRC Marketing & Social Research which found while 98% of drinkers are aware of an official definition of a "standard measure of alcohol", none could correctly state what this definition is (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. 2004. Standard Drink Calibration: an in-depth investigation of volumes of alcohol consumed by Youth Uncontrolled Binge Drinkers, and Adult Constrained & Uninhibited Binge Drinkers. April 2004).
Bar tenders are trained to recognise - and pour - a standard drink (100ml wine, 330 ml beer, 30 ml spirits), but most New Zealanders are not. As ALAC points out in its leaflet, The straight up guide to standard drinks, "in pubs or bars, the serving sizes are usually consistent - at home, you are probably pouring different amounts every time".
A bottle of wine contains on average 7.7 standard drinks but many New Zealanders may only pour four glasses from the bottle. In its Standard Drink Calibration study, the Alcohol Advisory Council found wine and spirit drinkers tend to drink servings that are "twice the volume of a standard drink" while beer drinkers drink 1.25 the volume of a standard drink (Ibid. p5). |
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08 |
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Myth: New Zealanders are binge drinkers. |
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Reality: Public Health Officials say four and a half cans of beer is a binge so almost a third of us are binging, but New Zealanders say ten cans of beer is a binge, and only 9% of us did that in our last drinking session. |
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Officials claim that six or more standard drinks is a binge drinking, but ordinary New Zealanders think binge drinking means having more than 14 standard drinks. (BRC Marketing and Social Research. 2004. The Way We Drink: A Profile of Drinking Culture in New Zealand. Wellington: Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand).
The official definition means 28% of us are binge drinkers, but according to the ordinary person's definition of drinking too much, less than 9% of us binge drink (9% report having 11 or more drinks in their last session - ibid).
The ordinary New Zealander's defintion of a binge as downing 14 standard drinks, equates to 1.6 bottles of wine at 14% alcohol content, or 14 cans of 4% strength beer or 10 cans of 5% beer
The officials' definition of a binge as downing six standard drinks equates to 0.72 of a bottle of 14% alcohol, or six cans of 4% strength beer, or 4.6 cans of 5% beer.
Definitions of "heavy drinking" or "binge drinking" vary considerably (Szmigin I, Griffin C, Mistral W, Bengry-Howell A, Weale L, Hackley C. 2008 "Re-framing 'binge drinking' as calculated hedonism: empirical evidence from the UK. International Journal of Drug Policy. October 2008, v19 i5, p359).
According to the International Center for Alcohol Policies, "the clinical definition of a binge is characterised by the consumption of alcohol to intoxication, usually a solitary and self-destructive activity lasting up to several days and involving a loss of control".
But that is very different to the simplistic quantity-based definitions by officials in various countries:
- USA: 4+ drinks per occasion for women / 5+ drinks per occasion for men at least once in the past 30 days; Blood alcohol concentration raised to 0.08g/ml or above
- Sweden: 1/2 bottle of spirits or 2 bottles of wine on the same occasion
- Finland: 6+ bottles of beer per session
- Canada: 8 drinks within the same day
(Key Facts and Issues. International Center for Alcohol Policies. USA, www.icap.org).
The Swedish definition is the closest match to New Zealanders' perceptions of 'heavy' drinking. Most New Zealand drinkers perceive 'heavy' drinking to be greater than 'drunk' drinking (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. 2004. Standard Drink Calibration: an in-depth investigation of volumes of alcohol consumed by Youth Uncontrolled Binge Drinkers, and Adult Constrained & Uninhibited Binge Drinkers. April 2004).
In terms of 'perceived' drinks (that is, what we perceive as a standard drink, not the ALAC-defined standard drink), experience has taught New Zealand drinkers to believe that 'moderate' drinking is 3.8 drinks on average (equivalent to 6.2 standard drinks); 'drunk' drinking to be 7.4 drinks (12.1 standard drinks) and 'heavy' drinking to be 8.6 drinks (14.0 standard drinks) (Ibid. p6).
This conflicts with the defintion of heavy drinking by the World Health Organisation's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: six standard drinks for men and four standard drinks for women on one drinking occasion (defined as one location) (Ministry of Health. 2007. Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use. Wellington: Ministry of Health). It is this definition, not matched by the experience and attitudes of New Zealanders, that is used by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.
There has been extensive research into quantifying the number of New Zealand 'binge drinkers' using this "formal" definition. The Ministry of Health estimates 24.6% of New Zealand drinkers aged 12-65 years are heavy drinkers, consuming large amounts of alcohol on a typical drinking occasion (Ministry of Health. 2007. Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use. Wellington: Ministry of Health, p17).
BRC Marketing and Social Research and the Alcohol Advisory Council puts the figure of binge drinkers in New Zealand at more than 50% - with "constrained binge drinkers" accounting for 23% and "uninhibited binge drinkers" accounting for 29% of the population (BRC Marketing and Social Research. 2004. The Way we Drink: A Profile of Drinking Culture in New Zealand. Wellington: Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand). |
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09 |
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Myth: New Zealanders drink too much. |
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Reality: By international comparison, New Zealand has a moderate alcohol consumption - we drink less than France, but a little more than Australia. |
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In New Zealand our annual alcohol consumption of alcohol is around nine litres.
By international comparison, New Zealand has a moderate attitude to alcohol - and alcohol consumption. The World Health Organisation ranks New Zealand 30th in alcohol consumption per capita out of 180 countries with the average New Zealand consuming 9.68 litres of alcohol annually (World Health Organisation. 2003, www.who.int).
Luxembourg heads the list with 15.56 litres per capita, followed by Ireland at number two (13.69 litres per capita), Germany (ranked 8th with 11.99 litres per capita), UK (ranked 10th with 11.75 litres per capita), Spain (ranked 11th with 11.68 litres per capita), France (ranked 14th with 11.43 litres per capita) and Russian Federation (ranked 24th with 10.32 litres per capita). Australia is ranked 35th on the WHO list with 9.02 litres per capita. |
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Myth: New Zealand is doing nothing about excessive drinking. |
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Reality: New Zealand is internationally recognised as one of the few nations finding solutions to excessive alcohol consumption. |
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New Zealanders' experience with alcohol is no different from many other countries in the history of alcohol consumption ("Alcohol's hapless history", The Press, 24 January 2008, E: 2).
Many countries are concerned about consumption of alcohol by "young adults and by heavy and problem drinkers" but not many have made any moves to mitigate their concerns (Crombie I, Irvine L, Elliott L, Wallace H. 2007. "How do public health policies tackle alcohol-related harm: a review of 12 developed countries" Alcohol & Alcoholism. Sep-Oct; 42: 492-9).
New Zealand is recognised as being one of the more responsible nations in terms of mitigating alcohol consumption and public health interventions:
"Countries vary in their commitment to intervene, particularly on taxation, drink-driving, the drinking environment and for high-risk groups. Australia and New Zealand stand out as having coordinated intervention programmes in most areas" (Ibid.). |
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Myth: Alcohol-related deaths and maiming are extraordinarily high. |
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Reality: Alcohol is involved in less than 1% of all deaths, and alcohol-related harm is so broadly defined that it includes hangovers and arguments. |
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In alcohol research, the term "alcohol-related harm" refers to short-term effects (for example, hangovers, memory loss), "doing something embarrassing or humiliating", accidents (for example, tripping or hurting oneself) and arguments (Research New Zealand. 2007. The Sale and Supply of Alcohol to Under 18 Year Olds in New Zealand: A Systematic Overview of International and New Zealand Literature).
Media reports and commentators describe the alcohol related harm total as if it were all about violence and death. Statistically, alcohol-related deaths equates to only around 0.5% of all deaths (Statistics New Zealand. 2004. Infant and Total Deaths).
The majority of these alcohol-related deaths are caused by its long-term abuse - not moderate drinking. For example, in 2004, of the total 162 deaths attributed to alcohol abuse, 60 were as a result of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, 33 were attributed to mental illness brought on by sustained alcohol abuse and 23 attributed to cardiopathy associated with alcohol abuse. Just eight were attributed to accidental poisoning by alcohol (of which five were aged 45 years old and over) and one intentional self-poisoning "by and exposure to alcohol" (the deceased was aged between 40 and 45 years old) (Ministry of Health. 2005. Total alcohol related deaths by age and sex, total population). |
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Myth: Maori and Pacific Islanders are bigger drinkers than non-Maori/non-Pacific Island drinkers. |
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Reality: Pakeha are bigger drinkers than Maori or Pacific Islanders. |
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According to the Ministry of Health, non-Maori are significantly more likely to drink on regular occasions than Maori - 81.3% Pakeha drink alcohol compared with 74.2% of Maori (Ministry of Health. 2007. Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use. Wellington: Ministry of Health).
The ratio of Pakeha drinkers versus non-drinkers is 4:1 versus Maori which is 3:1, i.e. for every four Pakeha who drink, one won't. For every three Maori who drink, one won't.
But, Maori are more likely to "binge" on the occasions they do drink - 21% drank heavily at least once a week compared to 14.7% of non-Maori (ibid.)
Pacific Islanders tend to fall in one of two camps - non-drinkers or "bingers". A study of more than 1000 New Zealanders found Pacific Islanders are "much less likely than Maori and Europeans to drink at all, but that if they do drink they are more likely to drink dangerously" (Ministry of Health. 1999. Taking the Pulse: 1996/97 New Zealand Health Survey. Wellington: Ministry of Health). |
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Myth: Young people drink all the time. |
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Reality: Only 12% of people under 24 get drunk every week. |
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According to the Ministry of Health, 81.2% of New Zealanders aged 12-65 years drink alcohol in any one year (2007. Alcohol Use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use).
But while the media and anti-alcohol organisations portray youth drinkers (age 12-24 years) as drinking more often than any other age group, Ministry of Health figures show there is very little difference between those aged 18-24 and those aged 25-44:
- 12-17 years: 55.7% drink alcohol in a year
- 18-24 years: 86.7% drink alcohol in a year
- 25-34 years: 86.0% drink alcohol in a year
- 35-44 years: 85.9% drink alcohol in a year
- 45-54 years: 82.75 drink alcohol in a year
- 55-65 years: 82.35% drink alcohol in a year
It is true that those aged between 18-24 (i.e. those above the legal purchase age) drink more heavily than other age groups.
In the World Health Organisation's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), a 10 item questionnaire asking questions on quantity, frequency, quantity on one occasion and alcohol related problems, young people in this age group consistently score highly (indiciating risky or problem drinking).
The AUDIT classifies "drinking large amounts of alcohol" as consuming more than six (for males) or four (for females) standard drinks on one drinking occasion (Ministry of Health. 2007. Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use. Wellington: Ministry of Health).
Of the people under 18 who drink, most are "supervised" drinking fortnightly or less frequently and typically with their families - 21% (Ibid. p15). Just 16% of young people are what ALAC defines as "Social Binge Drinkers" - those who drink ‘regularly' (at least once every two weeks) and drinking more than six (for men) or four (for women) standard drinks on each occasion.
Just 12.2% of youth drinkers are what ALAC defines as "uncontrolled binge drinkers" who drink ‘heavily' ("consuming enough alcohol to feel drunk at least once a week"); among this group, Maori are most prominent (18.6%) (Ministry of Health. 2007. Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use. Wellington: Ministry of Health). |
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Myth: Most underage drinkers get their alcohol from liquor outlets. |
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Reality: More than two thirds of underage drinkers are given alcohol from parents or friends. |
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Liquor outlets are ruthlessly policed for any mistake in selling alcohol to minors, but two thirds of teenagers just get their alcohol from parents and friends.
In a 2004 study, the Ministry of Health found 62.5% of teenagers got someone else to buy alcohol for them, of which, 37.9% were parents, 34.8% were friends, 13.1% siblings, 9.8% extended family members and 9.8% other adults (Ministry of Health. 2007. Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use. Wellington: Ministry of Health).
Just 14.6% of youth drinkers tried to purchase alcohol from licensed premises (wine shops, wholesalers, hotel or tavern bottle stores, supermarkets, superettes, dairies and sports clubs) (Ibid.).
Very few underage drinkers buy alcohol directly from a bar or pub (on-license venue).
83.7% of drinkers under the age of 18 tended to drink at home or at a friend's (73.7%) (Ministry of Health. 2007. Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use. Wellington: Ministry of Health).
This is reflected in crime statistics which show just 65 offences involving minors drinking in bars / nightclubs. A further 48 cases involved minors convicted of drinking alcohol in a public place.
This compares to 1,096 convictions in the 1998/1999 fiscal year of minors drinking alcohol in bars / nightclubs and a further 2,867 convictions involving minors drinking alcohol in a public place (Statistics New Zealand. 2007/08. National Annual Recorded Offences for the latest 10 fiscal years).
Given there are 319,830 New Zealanders aged between 12 and 17 (Statistics New Zealand. 2006. Census), it is fair to say the number of underage drinkers consuming alcohol in a bar / pub or in a public place is negligible (0.02% in the 2007/2008 fiscal year).
Rather, it is when most young people turn 18 that they start drinking alcohol in nightclubs (70.6% of 18-24 year olds according to the Ministry of Health's Alcohol Use in New Zealand). This reflects the tendency for underage drinkers to source alcohol from friends and family - and avoid having to show identification at liquor outlets and licensed premises.
According to Research New Zealand, just 10% of underage drinkers had managed to successfully buy alcohol themselves from a licensed venue - of this group, only 7% had bought the alcohol from a pub or at a licensed event (Research New Zealand. 2007. The Sale and Supply of Alcohol to Under 18 Year Olds in New Zealand: A Systematic Overview of International and New Zealand Literature). |
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Myth: It is really easy for underage drinkers to buy alcohol. |
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Reality: Out of the 15,000 places young people could try to buy alcohol, there were only 193 prosecutions for selling alcohol to minors in 2008. |
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Underage drinkers are adept at "sussing out ‘easy' liquor outlets", where workers tend not to ask for age ID (Cvitanovic, L. 2006. Supplying Minors - where are we heading? Local Liquor. Issue 22)
All bars know their obligations to ask for ID from people who appear to be under the age of 25 years (New Zealand Police. Media Release: Lower Hutt bars caught selling alcohol to minors. 8 December 2005) and operate under a "no photo ID, no service" rule.
In the 2007/2008 fiscal year, there were just 239 recorded offenses involving minors (i.e. those under the purchase age), of which only 65 involved licensed premises. This equates to just 0.5% of all licensed premises being convicted of alcohol-related offenses involving minors. (Statistics New Zealand. 2007/08. National Annual Recorded Offences for the latest 10 fiscal years).
This is in marked contrast to the 1998/1999 fiscal year (before the purchase age was lowered) when 404 licensed premises were convicted of alcohol-related offenses involving minors.
Added to which, the penalties for breaking the law by using a false ID or buying alcohol underage have doubled and new infringement offences have been introduced (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand Resources, www.alac.org.nz) - meaning it is now more difficult than ever for under-18 year old drinkers to buy alcohol in bars.
In 2007, just 10 minors under the age of 18 were apprehended by New Zealand Police for "supplying False Particulars Or Evidence". This compares to 1999, prior to the purchase age being lowered, when 10 minors under the age of 17 and 101 "minors" (then aged between 17 and 20) were apprehended (Statistics New Zealand. 2007/08. National Annual Recorded Offences for the latest 10 fiscal years). |
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Myth: Alcopops are the major cause of harm amongst young people. |
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Reality: 65% of young people drink beer and wine, not alcopops. |
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According to ALAC, most youth drinkers drink beer (40%) - not alcopops (or ready-to-drink beverages / RTDs) (ALAC. 2006. ALAC Alcohol Monitor).
This is backed up by a Ministry of Health National Nutrition Survey, which found beer is the predominant alcohol beverage consumed among young drinkers aged between 15-18 (81% males; 48% females) while wine is the predominant drink for women aged between 19-24 (64%) (Ministry of Health. 1997. National Nutrition Survey).
Only 26% of young women aged 15-18 were found to drink the spirits, whereas young men drank less than 1% spirits (Ministry of Health. 1999. NZ Food, NZ People: Key Results of the National Nutrition Survey).
Research by the Hospitality Association of New Zealand found the majority of spirit-based pre-mixed drinks sold in New Zealand range from 5% to 6% alcohol by volume, and are comparable in alcohol content to beer, wine coolers and cider.
On a price-per-alcohol-volume level, which matters to teenagers seeking alcoholic effects, RTDs are very expensive in comparison to beer and wine. Beer can be purchased for $9.95 (12 x 355 ml = 4.26 litres, or $2.33 per litre), while a three-litre cask of wine for $15.95 ($5.31 per litre). But RTDs are typically sold in a four-pack at $10.95 (4 x 330 ml = 1.32 litres, or $8.29 per litre). |
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Myth: The drink driving issue is caused by young people. |
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Reality: 97% of under 29 year olds are not drunk drivers - but the 3% who do drink and drive make up 35% of all drunk drivers. |
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The current generation of young drinkers has now grown up with sober driving messages, run as part of the Land Transport Authority of New Zealand and New Zealand Police's road safety advertising campaign.
Between 1997 and 2004 (spanning the period where the drinking age was lowered to 18 years), just 1-3% of those under 20 stopped at the roadside had "excess alcohol readings".
Frequency
The number and percentage of car crashes involving alcohol among 15-19 year old drivers decreased between 1994 and 1999 (Ministry of Justice. 2005. Young People and Alcohol: Some Statistics to 2003 and 2004 on Possible Effects of Lowering the Drinking Age). Since 2000 there has been a slight increase in the number of youth drivers aged between 15-19 involved in crashes. In 1999, 14 youth were killed in alcohol / drug-related crashes (2.7% of the national road toll). This increased to 19 in 2007 (5% of the national road toll) (Ministry of Transport. 2008. Alcohol/Drugs: Crash Statistics for the Year Ended 31 December 2007).
This trend was also reflected in the 20-24 age group with an increase of seven deaths in 2007 compared with 1999.
In comparison, national road toll statistics show a decrease from 1999 to 2008 with the exception of 2003 which recorded an increase (461 road deaths, up from 405 in 2002) (Ministry of Transport. 2009. Road fatalities since 1950).
According to the Ministry of Transport:
"of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, the 20-24 and 25-29 year old age groups were the most likely to be affected by alcohol/drugs. Above the age of 29, alcohol/drugs as a contributing factor in fatal crashes decreases".
Between 2005-2007, 35% of all drivers apprehended under the influence of alcohol / drugs were in these age groups. This compares to 19% of all drivers aged between 30-39 apprehended under the influence of alcohol / drugs; 16% of all drivers aged between 40 and 49; 6% among those aged between 50 and 59 years of age: and 7% of those aged 60 years of age and over. (Ministry of Transport. 2008. Alcohol/Drugs: Crash Statistics for the Year Ended 31 December 2007).
Self-reporting
In the Ministry of Health's Alcohol Use in New Zealand study, just 13% of youth drinkers below the age of 18 self-reported that they had driven under the influence of alcohol while 24.2% of drinkers between 18-24 years had, at some stage, driven under the influence, closely followed by the 35-44 age group in which 22.7% had driven under the influence of alcohol - the majority of this group were non-Maori men. What this study did not review was the level of alcohol, which in some cases, was probably below the legal breath alcohol limit. |
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Myth: The harm to young people has increased significantly since the age of alcohol purchase was set at 18. |
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Reality: The number of young people hospitalised by incidents involving alcohol has decreased since the age of purchase was lowered. |
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Police New Zealand statistics show minor assaults (often fuelled by alcohol) have decreased in the eight years since the purchase age was lowered (1 December 1999). In the 1998-1999 year, 13,865 minor assaults were recorded (this equates to 0.36% of the population or 36 people of out of 10,000 arrested for minor assaults). In the 2007-2008 year, 14,921 minor assaults were recorded (equating to 0.35% of the population or 35 people of out of 1000 arrested for minor assaults).
According to the Ministry of Justice, publicly funded hospitalisations of young people with alcohol-related injuries increased between 1997 and 2002 but since 2003, the number of 15-17 year olds hospitalised has decreased (Ministry of Justice. 2005. Young People and Alcohol: Some Statistics to 2003 and 2004 on Possible Effects of Lowering the Drinking Age). |
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Myth: It is illegal for people under 18 to drink alcohol (the "drinking age" is 18). |
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Reality: 18 is just the age at which you can legally purchase. You can legally drink alcohol at any age. |
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The "under-18" rule applies to purchasing alcohol - not drinking alcohol. It is legal for under-18 year olds to drink alcohol. According to ALAC, a person under 18, with their parent or legal guardian, can:
- Drink responsibly in a private home or at a private function - like a family BBQ or 21st
- Go into supervised area of bars and pubs
- Drink in a public place - except where there is an alcohol ban
(Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, www.alcohol.org.nz) |
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Myth: Lowering the age of purchase has increased the number of young people drinking. |
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Reality: The number of young people who are drinking fell by 16% after the purchase age was lowered. |
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Lowering the age of purchase has had no effect on the drinking habits of young people.
In 1997, prior to the purchase age being lowered, 80% of young people had tried alcohol. By 2000, this figure had climbed to 86% (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. ALAC Youth Drinking Monitor 1997-2000. p5).
But by 2003, this figure decreased to 72% (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. 2003 ALAC Youth Drinking Monitor. 7 August 2003. p5).
The statistics may go up and down over time, but they appear to be related to factors other than the age of purchase. |
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Myth: Lowering the age of purchase has increased the number of young people binge drinking. |
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Reality: In 1997 34% of young people drank more than five glasses in one session, in 2003, this figure dropped to 23%. |
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In 2000, the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand released its Youth Drinking Monitor assessing consumption of alcohol among young people before the purchase age was lowered and immediately after. This revealed that between 1997 and 2000, more young people were drinking ‘heavily' (that is, more than five glasses of alcohol on their last drinking occasion) - in 1997, 34% of young people reported they drank ‘heavily' while in 2000, immediately after the purchase age was lowered, 44% reported they drank heavily (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. ALAC Youth Drinking Monitor 1997-2000. p5).
But in its follow-up report in 2003, this figure had dropped. In 2001 and 2002, 34% of young people reported drinking ‘heavily' marking a return to pre-2000 levels. By 2003, three years after the purchase age was lowered, this figure had dropped further to 23% (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. 2003 ALAC Youth Drinking Monitor. 7 August 2003. p5). |
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Myth: Since the age of purchase was lowered, alcohol-related crime and violence has increased. |
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Reality: Alcohol-related crime and violence has decreased - the number of recorded drugs and antisocial offences has fallen by 8.5%. |
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According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of under-18 year olds apprehended for disorderly behaviour (an indicator of alcohol-related offending) increased in the decade leading up to the age of purchase being lowered.
This upwards trend continued though to 2003 but was consistent across all age groups, not just among those under-18 years (Ministry of Justice. 2005. Young People and Alcohol: Some Statistics to 2003 and 2004 on Possible Effects of Lowering the Drinking Age).
But In recent years, the number of convictions among 18-19 year olds has in fact, decreased compared to other age groups (Ibid.).
Police New Zealand statistics show a reduction in ‘drugs and antisocial' offences in the decade since the purchase age was lowered. In 1998-1999, 149.4 offences were recorded (per 10,000 population) but in 2007-2008, the number of recorded offences had decreased to 140.9 (per 10,000 population).
Minor assaults have also decreased in the eight years since the purchase age was lowered (1 December 1999). In the 1998-1999 year, 13,865 minor assaults were recorded (this equates to 0.36% of the population or 36 people of out of 1000 arrested for minor assaults). In the 2007-2008 year, 14,921 minor assaults were recorded (equating to 0.35% of the population or 35 people of out of 1000 arrested for minor assaults). |
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23 |
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Myth: Liquor advertising and promotions are aimed at young people to encourage them to drink. |
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Reality: Liquor advertising and promotions try to attract people to brands. There is no need to encourage people to drink alcohol, and strict regulations prevent alcohol producers from targeting under 25 years old. |
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More Info
People will drink alcohol with or without advertising for it. So promotions focus on telling them about various brands available.
As a safety measure, alcohol advertising is governed by rigid criteria designed to standardise and regulate the way alcohol is advertised.
The Advertising Standards Authority has formulated the Advertising Codes of Practice, which includes a Code for Advertising Liquor to which all media, advertisers and communications agencies are held (Ministry of Health. Alcohol: Questions and Answers about the Regulation of Alcohol Advertising. www.ndp.govt.nz). This includes a principle stating advertisements must be directed at adult audiences (i.e. those over 25 years of age).
- Principle 1 - Liquor advertisements shall neither conflict with nor detract from the need for responsibility and moderation in liquor consumption.
- Principle 2 - Liquor advertisements shall observe a high standard of social responsibility.
- Principle 3 - Liquor advertisements shall not depict or imply the consumption of liquor in potentially hazardous situations or include any unsafe practices; Liquor advertisements shall not offer motor vehicles or boats as prizes in any competition.
- Principle 4 - Liquor advertisements shall be directed to adult audiences. Liquor advertisements shall not be directed at minors nor have strong or evident appeal to minors in particular. (In addition all advertisements featuring actors or models must be, and appear to be, over 25 years old).
- Principle 5 - Sponsorship advertisements and sponsorship credits shall clearly and primarily promote the sponsored activity, team or individual. The sponsor, the sponsorship and items incidental to them, may be featured only in a subordinate manner.
- Principle 6 - Liquor advertisements shall not by any means, directly or by innuendo, contain any misleading description, claim or comparison about the product advertised, or about any other product, or suggest some special quality which cannot be sustained.
(Advertising Standards Authority. 2003. Code for Advertising Liquor. www.asa.co.nz)
In addition, the Association of New Zealand Advertisers administers the Liquor Advertising Pre-Vetting System (LAPS) on behalf of all liquor advertisers, in which an independent adjudicator ‘pre-vets' advertisements prior to media receiving it (www.anza.co.nz/?q=prevetting/laps).
The effect of advertising on youth
Young people tend to be aware of brands and "cool", fun and humorous elements of advertisements - elements often found in alcohol advertising (Massey University research presented to the Steering Group for the Review of the Regulation of Alcohol Advertising. March 2007). As such, alcohol advertisements tend to appeal to young people by proxy - not as a directive.
However, this does not translate into sales. In an Australian study of youth perceptions of alcohol advertising, over two thirds of the participants believed the selected products advertised would help them have a "great time" and "help them succeed with the opposite sex", in particular Agnes brandy, Kahlua, and Frangelico (Jones, SC and Gregory, P. 2007. "What does Alcohol Advertising tell Young People about Drinking?". Proceedings of the Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy (ANZMAC) Conference). Yet, as Ministry of Health statistics show, beer is the preferred alcohol beverage among young drinkers aged between 15-18 - not spirits or liqueurs (Ministry of Health. 1997. National Nutrition Survey). |
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24 |
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Myth: Alcohol advertisements attract the most complaints. |
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Reality: Alcohol advertisements account for just 4% of all complaints. |
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People are far more concerned with misleading advertising in the telecommunications and electricity industry and sex / moral matters than alcohol advertising.
In the year to date (2008), the Advertising Standards Authority had released 545 decisions, of which 22 related to the Code for Advertising Liquor. Of the 125 decisions upheld or settled by the Advertising Standards Authority, across all codes, just five related to the Code for Advertising Liquor.
2008 - Advertising Standards Authority statistics in the year to date
|
Overall (across all codes) |
Related to the Code for Advertising Liquor |
Percentage |
| Number of decisions released |
545 |
22 |
4.0% |
| Number of decisions: No Grounds to Proceed |
257 |
7 |
2.7% |
| Number of decisions: Withdrawn/Resolved |
52 |
1 |
1.9% |
| Number of decisions: Upheld/Settled |
125 |
58 |
4.0% |
| Number of decisions: Not Upheld |
111 |
9 |
8.1% |
| Number of decisions: Not Classified |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Previous year's decisions - Advertising Standards Authority
|
2007 |
2006 |
2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
| Consumer Product |
82 |
87 |
58 |
91 |
57 |
| Advocacy |
44 |
43 |
54 |
50 |
49 |
| Food & Beverage |
67 |
49 |
45 |
41 |
41 |
| Liquor |
31 |
30 |
40 |
37 |
17 |
| Telecommunications |
74 |
37 |
29 |
29 |
10 |
| Entertainment |
38 |
20 |
28 |
22 |
11 |
| Therapeutic |
38 |
30 |
25 |
36 |
37 |
| Apparel & Footwear |
16 |
14 |
24 |
17 |
9 |
| Financial |
27 |
25 |
19 |
29 |
23 |
| Vehicle/Transportation |
29 |
26 |
18 |
15 |
15 |
| Fast Food |
33 |
22 |
16 |
11 |
7 |
| Health & Beauty |
19 |
13 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
| Media |
37 |
27 |
10 |
20 |
23 |
| Retail |
40 |
14 |
9 |
0 |
14 |
| Tourism/Travel |
29 |
18 |
9 |
10 |
6 |
| Professional Service |
9 |
16 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
| Service |
18 |
7 |
7 |
13 |
22 |
| Gaming/Gambling |
6 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
| Real Estate |
18 |
11 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
| Other |
13 |
0 |
35 |
0 |
0 |
| Total |
668 |
493 |
461 |
459 |
372 |
|
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25 |
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Myth: Liquor companies use promotions and sponsorship to get people to drink more. |
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Reality: There is no evidence that alcohol sponsorship increases alcohol consumption. |
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26 |
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Myth: Bars and pubs are only interested in getting people drunk. |
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Reality: It is illegal for bars and pubs to let people get drunk, and it is closely watched by police - there were only 87 convictions for it in 2007, out of 15,000 bars and clubs. |
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Dealing with intoxicated customers is the most difficult aspect of the business (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. 2005. Presentation: Host Responsibilty. www.alac.co.nz).
As part of maintaining a sale of liquor licence, licensed premises are required to be "responsible hosts". The Host Responsibility campaign was launched in 1991 in conjunction with licensed operators and the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC), placing the onus on the server of alcohol and limiting intoxication. Elements of the campaign have been subsequently incorporated into the Sale of Liquor Act (1989) through amendments (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand. 2005. Host Responsbility: Guidelines for Licensed Premises).
All bars and pubs offer a full range of non-alcoholic beverages and in fact some bars - in particular bars on university campuses - require patrons to order a meal / bar snack with their drink.
In fact, of the 10,228 breaches of the Sale of Liquor Act recorded by the New Zealand Police in the 2007-2008 fiscal year, just 495 involved licensed premises (under the Sale of Liquor Act) (Statistics New Zealand. 2007/08. National Annual Recorded Offences for the latest 10 fiscal years).
Of these, just four cases related to a bar selling/supplying alcohol to an intoxicated person (of which only two were resolved, i.e. convicted); five involved a bar allowing someone to become intoxicated (of which three cases were resolved); and 91 cases concerned a bar allowing an intoxicated person to remain on the premises (of which 82 were resolved).
This is a marked reduction from those recorded in the 1998/1999 fiscal year in which 13 cases were recorded of a bar selling/supplying alcohol to an intoxicated person; another 13 involved a bar allowing someone to become intoxicated; while 164 cases concerned a bar allowing an intoxicated person to remain on the premises (of which 162 were resolved) (Ibid.). |
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27 |
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Myth: Most alcohol is sold and consumed in bars, pubs and restaurants. |
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Reality: More than two thirds of New Zealanders drink at home and buy alcohol from off-licenses not bars, pubs or restaurants. |
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More Info
According to the Alcohol and Public Health Research Unit (APHRU), 39% of men and 45% of women drink at home or at a friend's (17% and 19% respectively) rather than on a licensed premises (24% and 20% respectively) (Habgood R, Casswell S, Pledger M, Bhatta K. 2001. Drinking in New Zealand: National Surveys Comparison 1995 & 2000. Alcohol and Public Health Research Unit). This indicates that the majority of people also buy alcohol from off-licenses (for example, supermarkets, liquor stores) rather than bars, pubs and restaurants. |
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28 |
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Myth: Lots of bars, pubs and clubs are not obeying the Sale of Liquor Act. |
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Reality: Sale of Liquor Act breaches by licensed premises are less than 4% of all alcohol convictions. |
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More Info
Latest New Zealand Police statistics reveals 10,228 breaches of the Sale of Liquor Act in the 2007-2008 year (New Zealand Police. A Summary of Recorded and Resolved Offence Statistics. October 2008), however this figure is not entirely representative of licensee breaches as it also incorporates closure of premises due to fighting/riots, breaches of liquor bans (as per the The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2004), sales by unlicensed people / premises and miscellaneous liquor offences (e.g. unlicensed premises / people selling alcohol). It also reflects increases in assessments and enforcement measures of licensed premises over the past three years.
In relation to overall crime statistics however, Sale of Liquor Act breaches account for just 4% of all convictions (4761 Sale of Liquor Act convictions out of a total 121, 775 convictions in 2007) (Statistics New Zealand. Conviction and Sentencing Tables).
This is only just higher than the 2000 figure of 3% and a marked decrease from the 1994 when Sale of Liquor Act offences accounted for 10% of all convictions (Statistics New Zealand. 2001. Crime in New Zealand). |
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29 |
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Myth: Alcohol is to blame for most road accidents. |
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Reality: Alcohol is a factor in less than a third of road accidents, and casualties have declined from 328 in 1986 to 128 in 2007. |
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According to the Ministry of Transport, alcohol was a factor in 31% of all road accidents in 2007 (Ministry of Transport. 2008. Motor Vehicle Crashes in New Zealand 2007: Statistical Statement Calendar Year 2007).
Drivers under the influence of alcohol was a contributing factor in 117 fatal traffic crashes - the same number as fatal crashes involving speed. Furthermore, 402 serious injury crashes were found to involved alcohol while 434 crashes involved speed. Speed is more promient in minor injury crashes (1471 crashes) than alcohol (1182 crashes) (Ministry of Transport. 2007. Crash Factsheet - Speeding; Crash Factsheet - Alcohol).
In the Ministry of Health's Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use study, just 1.7% of New Zealanders were found to have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in the previous year that involved someone else's drinking. (Ministry of Health. 2007. Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use. Wellington: Ministry of Health). |
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30 |
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Myth: Road deaths from alcohol are not improving. |
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Reality: Road deaths and casualties from alcohol related accidents have more than halved in the past 20 years. |
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More Info
|
Crashes with driver alcohol/drugs as a factor |
Casualties from crashes with driver alcohol/drugs as a factor |
|
Fatal |
Injury |
Deaths |
Injuries |
| Year |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
| 1986 |
266 |
41% |
2575 |
20% |
328 |
43% |
4520 |
24% |
| 1987 |
271 |
40% |
2595 |
21% |
329 |
41% |
4498 |
24% |
| 1988 |
266 |
43% |
2500 |
21% |
318 |
44% |
4246 |
25% |
| 1989 |
264 |
41% |
2364 |
21% |
321 |
42% |
3969 |
24% |
| 1990 |
268 |
42% |
2716 |
22% |
318 |
44% |
4531 |
26% |
| 1991 |
225 |
41% |
2424 |
21% |
269 |
41% |
3935 |
24% |
| 1992 |
221 |
41% |
2282 |
21% |
273 |
42% |
3672 |
23% |
| 1993 |
185 |
36% |
1906 |
18% |
227 |
38% |
3042 |
20% |
| 1994 |
190 |
38% |
2044 |
18% |
225 |
39% |
3300 |
20% |
| 1995 |
162 |
32% |
2118 |
18% |
200 |
34% |
3421 |
20% |
| 1996 |
129 |
28% |
1652 |
16% |
148 |
29% |
2664 |
18% |
| 1997 |
127 |
27% |
1389 |
16% |
147 |
27% |
2317 |
17% |
| 1998 |
118 |
27% |
1347 |
16% |
142 |
28% |
2233 |
18% |
| 1999 |
100 |
23% |
1146 |
14% |
122 |
24% |
1904 |
16% |
| 2000 |
101 |
26% |
1063 |
14% |
115 |
25% |
1727 |
16% |
| 2001 |
104 |
26% |
1111 |
13% |
118 |
26% |
1870 |
15% |
| 2002 |
95 |
26% |
1296 |
13% |
109 |
27% |
1995 |
14% |
| 2003 |
124 |
31% |
1229 |
12% |
141 |
31% |
1953 |
14% |
| 2004 |
116 |
31% |
1235 |
12% |
135 |
31% |
1899 |
14% |
| 2005 |
101 |
30% |
1335 |
13% |
116 |
29% |
1996 |
14% |
| 2006 |
99 |
28% |
1537 |
14% |
109 |
28% |
2324 |
15% |
| 2007 |
117 |
31% |
1584 |
14% |
128 |
30% |
2336 |
15% |
Ministry of Transport Crash Fact Sheet 2008
Note: The table shows crashes and all casualties from crashes in which at least one driver was affected by alcohol/drugs. Not included are the crashes in which only the pedestrians, cyclists and passengers were affected by alcohol/drugs. |
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31 |
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Myth: Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is a real risk for women. |
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Reality: A glass of wine while you are pregnant is extremely unlikely to affect the foetus. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is rare because it appears to be caused by mothers who combine drugs, smoking, alcohol and poor diet. Fewer than 0.1% of all babies born are diagnosed with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. |
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More Info
There is no evidence that the intake of alcohol at less than two standard drinks per day causes foetal alcohol developmental effects.
It is unclear how much more you need to drink to raise the risk to your fetus beyond the infinitesimal
Rates for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) are low in New Zealand. In 2006, the New Zealand Drug Foundation estimated about 110 children were born each year with FAS and another 250 with other FAS disorders (New Zealand Drug Foundation. 2006. Drug Foundation Evidence Review of Alcohol and Pregnancy. February 2006).
This equates to less than 0.1% of all babies born in 2007 being diagnosed with FAS and less than 0.4% of babies born suffering from FAS related disorders (using 2007 Statistics New Zealand data: 64,044 live births). |
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32 |
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Myth: Shorter opening hours result in less alcohol-related problems. |
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Reality: The results of prohibition and shorter opening hours show that alcohol consumption cannot be stopped - and severe restrictions cause even more social problems. |
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More Info
Alcohol has been at the centre of socialising, amusement, abuse and social discord since its invention at least 12,000 years ago. At the same time, it has been a source of friction in societies because its use exposes the moral and ethical tension between order and moderation, and freedom and pleasure (Hanson, David J. History of Alcohol and Drinking around the World. www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/controversies/1114796842.html)
In October 1917 the New Zealand government imposed a six o'clock closing on all liquor outlets. This legislation remained in place for 50 vears (Christoffel, P.J. 2006. Removing Temptation: New Zealand's Alcohol Restrictions, 1881-2005. PhD Thesis. Victoria University of Wellington).
The belief behind the earlier closing was that people would consume less alcohol if they had a shorter time available (in effect "removing the temptation" to drink) - however, it quickly became apparent that the "six o'clock swill" did little to encourage temperate drinking" (ibid).
According to Lincoln University researcher Dr Greg Ryan, prohibition and shorter opening hours fuelled New Zealand's alcohol consumption and corresponding alcohol-related problems ("Alcohol's hapless history", The Press, 24 January 2008, E: 2).
"The most significant measure was the introduction of the 6pm pub closing, the norm between 1917 and 1967&the result was rapid binge drinking. The pub was no longer a centre of community and conviviality, but a Spartan environment in which to get drunk quickly."
This is reinforced by Paul Cristoffel in his PhD thesis, Removing Temptation: New Zealand's Alcohol Restrictions, 1881-2005:
"Daytime drinking on Saturdavs became the norm. In 1945 an observer in an Invercargill bar counted 87 people at 10.30 am and some 250 at 12.15 pm, with many patrons 'well inebriated'. The speed of consumption was increased to allow for the restricted time available after work, leading to the notorious 'six o'clock swill'.&The limited time available for drinking on weekdays led to over-crowded bars, rushed drinking, and the custom quaintly known as ‘vertical drinking', in which customers invariably stood rather than sat down for a drink." (Christoffel, P.J. 2006. Removing Temptation: New Zealand's Alcohol Restrictions, 1881-2005. PhD Thesis. Victoria University of Wellington. p142, 145).
Another expectation of shorter opening hours was a reduction in crime, however, what emerged was an increase in (non-violent) crime with New Zealanders being forced to find loopholes around having a sociable drink with colleagues outside of the ‘six o'clock' curfew. Police themselves were recorded as having flouted the rules imposed and having drinks with locals in rural areas (ibid. p 141).
"[A] 34 percent fall in drunkenness convictions during 1916 and 1917 [attributed to the effects of shorter closing hours] occurred almost entirely before the introduction of early closing in December 1917. & Despite early closing, drunkenness convictions rose as soon as the war ended, in line with the temporary boost in alcohol consumption. (ibid., p190)
There is also evidence that shorter hours or prohibition actually increases the prevalence of alcohol-related illnesses and deaths, because the drinking does not stop, it goes underground. The intensity of surreptitious drinking means those who were previously already consuming to excess increase their drinking "sometimes to fatal levels" (ibid).
The overall death rate between 1912-1974 has been consistently decreasing with peaks during the World Wars (Statistics New Zealand. 2008. Registered Deaths and Crude Death Rate) showing environmental influences have more of an impact overall on mortality rates than alcohol. |
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33 |
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Myth: Alcohol problems on the streets come from people drinking in bars. |
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Reality: Only one third of alleged offenders were drinking in a bar before they were arrested by police. It is illegal to be drunk in a bar but not in a public place, so people get drunk before and after being in licensed premises, but not in the licensed premise itself. In 2007 there were 183 prosecutions for drinking in bars and clubs, but 9000 for drinking in public places. |
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Research has shown the majority of New Zealanders drink at home - and heavily (Habgood R, Casswell S, Pledger M, Bhatta K. 2001. Drinking in New Zealand: National Surveys Comparison 1995 & 2000. Alcohol and Public Health Research Unit). This is particularly the case with young people under the purchase age who source their alcohol through friends and family (Ministry of Health. 2007. Alcohol use in New Zealand: Analysis of the 2004 New Zealand Health Behaviours Survey - Alcohol Use. Wellington: Ministry of Health).
Young people often come into town on Friday and Saturday nights as it is an important part of socialisation and self-identification (Alcohol & Public Health Research Unit, 2002. Young People, Alcohol and Safer Public Spaces).
According to the Alcohol and Public Health Research Unit (APRU), there is often a "heavy flow of people carrying bottles down the street as they head to nightclubs" (Ibid.), presumably from people coming into town from home with alcohol not sourced from bars. In fact, according to the APHRU study, "it is common practice for people to keep drinking right up to the door of a club aiming to get as drunk as possible before going in because alcohol costs so much more in the clubs" (Ibid.).
This is reflected in the New Zealand Police's breach of liquor ban statistics. In the 2007/08 fiscal year 9,080 people were apprehended for having breached the liquor ban (of which 7,385 were prosecuted). Of those apprehended:
· 7726 were male; 359 were under the age of 16, 4124 were aged between 17-20; 2887 were aged between 21-30; 1536 were aged 31-50 while 174 were aged 51 or over (Statistics New Zealand. 2009. National Annual Apprehensions for the latest 10 fiscal years).
According to the New Zealand Police Alco-Link "Last Orders" research, less than a third of those arrested identified their last place of drink as a licensed premise. The majority were found to have been drinking in a public place or "unknown".
| umber of Alleged Offenders who Identified their Place of Last Drink by Fiscal Year (1 July-30 June) |
| Place of Last Drink |
2005/06 |
2006/07 |
2007/08 |
| Licensed Premises |
13,268 |
14,302 |
14,654 |
| Public Places |
11,457 |
13,802 |
14,838 |
| Unknown |
14,420 |
14,485 |
16,423 |
|
Information was extracted in November 2008. Please note that this data is provisional and drawn from a dynamic operational database. It is subject to change as new data is continually recorded. Provisional data cannot reliably be compared to official statistics. As Alco-link information is gained from persons who have been consuming alcohol prior to coming to Police attention, it is not used as the basis for a prosecution.
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