Alcohol
At least 5% of premature death and disability in Aotearoa/New Zealand is attributable to alcohol.
Alcohol causes harms that reduce social wellbeing.
Alcohol has huge impacts on health, contributes to violence and suicide and causes lifelong brain damage to unborn children.
The harms disproportionately affect young people, Māori and the most socio-economically deprived families, increasing inequities.
Despite this, successive governments have not implemented the evidence-based responses recommended by multiple national inquiries, placing the commercial interests of the alcohol industry ahead of our collective health.
HCA is committed to turning this situation around through advocacy for alcohol law reform.
You can read more about our policy asks here and here.
Key facts – Alcohol harm in Aotearoa
- One in five adults who use alcohol are considered hazardous (high risk) drinkers
- Alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions, which results in at least 800 premature deaths in Aotearoa every year.
- Alcohol causes 950 new cancer cases each year and about 6% of all cancer deaths (over 640)
- Up to 3000 babies with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) could be born in Aotearoa each year, according to estimates based on international statistics.
- Māori experience disproportionately higher levels of alcohol-related harm than other ethnic groups
- Māori children are five times more exposed to alcohol marketing around their school and residential neighbourhood compared to New Zealand European children (alcohol marketing exposure causes drinking from younger ages and in larger amounts)
- There are 32% more alcohol outlets in neighbourhoods with a higher proportion ( >15%) of Māori residents than neighbourhoods with fewer Māori.
- Almost half of alcohol consumed is done so in heavy (binge) drinking occasions
- At least 11% of child maltreatment is estimated to be due to hazardous or severe drinking
Where should we be heading?
New Zealanders deserve an environment that supports health rather than one which relentlessly promotes alcohol products, and where the current harms and inequities are minimised.
This will require strong political leadership that:
- recognises the problems and persistent inequities caused by alcohol
- takes action on the core drivers of alcohol harm that can be changed: alcohol marketing, cheap prices and the disproportionate number of alcohol stores in our least well-off communities.
Our priority is to comprehensively reform the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and implement policies shown to be effective in reducing harm from alcohol.
How to reduce alcohol harm
- Redraft alcohol law in partnership with Māori to ensure Te Tiriti o Waitangi is given appropriate effect, and to eliminate disproportionate harm to Māori.
- Increase alcohol taxes to reduce access to alcohol, and alcohol harm.
- Restrict marketing of alcohol, including on digital platforms.
- Protect sports and other events from alcohol advertising through sponsorship.
- Maintain a high level of random breath testing and ensure its visibility to the public.
- Develop and implement Local Alcohol Policies (LAPs) in meaningful partnership with Māori and under-resourced communities to minimise alcohol harm.
- Increase awareness of FASD, classify it as a disability and increase access to publicly funded support services.
- Restrict the influence of the alcohol industry in policy making, education and charities.
- Support international agreements to control industry interference
HCA advocacy on alcohol is informed by the Rōpū Apaarangi Waipiro – Alcohol Expert Panel whose members are leaders in alcohol control research, policy and practice.
To read more about the health effects of alcohol and alcohol research visit: Alcohol Action, Alcohol Healthwatch, Cancer Society, Te Whatu Ora | Health Promotion, SHORE & Whariki Research Centre.
