Alcohol consumption in New Zealand has shifted, according to new data released in the annual NZ Health Survey.
The just released annual NZ Health survey has shown the cultural shift in the way New Zealanders are continuing to drink. Hazardous drinking or harmful alcohol consumption statistics among adults was similar to last year and have declined by 4.7 percentage points in the past four years to 16.6 percent (21.3 percent 2019/20).
The largest decrease in hazardous drinking over the past five years was among young New Zealanders, specifically the adge of 18 to 24 years – a decline of 13.2 percentage points to 22.6 percent.
“This reduction in hazardous drinking shows the change in the way that we are drinking,” said NZABC executive director Virginia Nicholls.
In New Zealand, fewer young people under the age of 18 are drinking alcohol, and those who do are drinking less hazardously.
Although the legal age for purchasing alcohol in New Zealand is 18 years old, 51 percent of those aged 15 to 17 years drank alcohol in the past year, which has declined by 8.9 percentage points since the survey began in 2011/12.
The Stats NZ alcohol consumption per capita has also declined 29 percent since 1986. When the New Zealand drinking culture is compare with other countries in the OECD, Kiwis are drinking less
than that of the OECD average. This has included less than the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France and Ireland.
“These trends are positive however, we need to invest more in education both at secondary school and in our work places to continue to accelerate these changes”, said Nicholls.
The Health NZ guidelines for low risk drinking are two standard drinks a day for women, and three standard drinks a day for men, with at least two alcohol-free days each week.
The NZ Alcohol Beverages Council is a pan-industry group that comments publicly on matters relating to the beer, wine, spirits and beverage industry. It focuses on supporting responsible alcohol consumption and wants to see a fair and balanced debate on alcohol regulation in New Zealand.
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