Turning The Tide: New Zealanders Unite To Curb Harmful Drinking
Most of us agree that targeted education and support programmes create a better understanding of responsible drinking a fact borne out by the fact that 70% of the New Zealanders surveyed agreed that such programmes reduce alcohol-related harm, …
'New Zealanders strongly support confiscating cars from repeat drink drivers, targeted support programmes for harmful drinkers and alcohol education programmes in schools', said NZABC Executive Director Virginia Nicholls.
For the past six years the NZ Alcohol Beverages Council (NZABC) has independently surveyed 1000 Kiwis [i] and found the support for the following (net harm) reduction measures continue to have significant support:
Confiscating cars from repeat drink drivers +79% (2019: 80%)
Targeted support programmes for harmful drinkers +78% (2019: same)
Alcohol education programmes in schools +70% (2019: 72%)
Heavier fines for drunk and disorderly behaviour +59% (2019: 56%)
Allow Police to issue spot fines for minor alcohol related offences +55% (2019: 36%)
Use alcohol interlocks in cars to reduce drink driving +54% (2021: same)
Alcohol education programmes in workplaces +44% (2022: 54%)
Since 2014 the total number of New Zealanders convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs [ii] has declined by 27% from 20,972 to 15,365 (2024).
Men factor in the stats considerably more than women with nearly four out of five convictions for drink driving and/or drugs are men [iii].
The recent NZ Road Safety Week showed the number of alcohol-related road deaths reduced by nearly 40% [iv] (from 2023 to 2024).
Alcohol interlock court mandated orders have increased from 262 (2015) to 3,972 in 2024. [v]. From 2018, alcohol interlock orders became mandatory (with some exceptions) for repeat offences and first offences with very high breath or blood alcohol readings.
'Most of us agree that targeted education and support programmes create a better understanding of responsible drinking – a fact borne out by the fact that 70% of the New Zealanders surveyed agreed that such programmes reduce alcohol-related harm', said Virginia.
Since 2019 the Tomorrow Project – a social change charity governed by Spirits NZ, NZ Winegrowers and the Brewers Association has funded the Life Education Trust to deliver 'Smashed' a theatre-in-education programme for high school students that provides practical information and advice to support better decision making.
Independent research [vi] showed the programme was supporting positive changes to youth drinking culture.
In NZ we are drinking less and drinking better with the move to moderation as part of a balanced lifestyle.
The annual NZ Health survey [vii] provides information on New Zealander's health and wellbeing shows that 83.4% of NZ adults (five out of six of us) are drinking beer, wine and spirits responsibly. This is an increase of 4.7 percentage points over the past four years (78.7% 2019/20).
Hazardous drinking [viii] or harmful alcohol consumption among adults over the past four years has declined to 16.6% (21.3% 2019/20).
The Stats NZ alcohol consumption per capita has also declined by 28.3% since 1986 [ix].
[i] Curia market research October 2024, 1000 adult respondents
[ii] Driving under the influence: The number of finalised charges and number of people with finalised charges and convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Also includes number of people with orders for alcohol interlock devices.
In 2014 there were 20,972 convicted.
NZ total driving under the influence 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Convicted 16,290 16,000 16,207 16,621 16,245 13,571 13,920 15,078 15,682 15,365
alcohol interlock orders 262 345 331 1,700 3,582 3,089 3,538 3,764 3,864 3,972
Alcohol interlock orders became a sentencing option in September 2012. From July 2018 alcohol interlock orders became mandatory (with some exceptions) for repeat offences and first offences with very high breath or blood alcohol readings under section 65A of the Land Transport Act 1998. Section 65A of the Land Transport Act
Ministry of Justice (NZ): driving under the influence: Data tables | New Zealand Ministry of Justice, accessed 6 May 2025
[iii] In 2024 78% of men and 22% of women were convicted of driving under the influence offences in NZ (driving under influence of alcohol and/or drug). People convicted of driving under the influence offences in New Zealand – Figure.NZ, accessed 3 June 2025
[iv] Hon Chris Bishop and Hon Mark Mitchell 2024 compared with year before: Roadside breath testing up; alcohol-related road deaths down | Beehive.govt.nz, , accessed 3 June 25
[v] See (ii)
[vi] Smashed 'showed us ways to deal with peer pressure,' NZCER, September 2022
[vii] New Zealand Health Survey | Ministry of Health NZ, accessed 19 November 2024
[viii] Hazardous drinking among the total population. Hazardous drinking refers to a score of 8 or more on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), which suggests hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption.
[ix] Stats NZ: Total NZ population 15 years and over alcohol available for consumption (per head of population). Year end 1986 (10.730 litres), year end March 2025 (7.690 litres): View table – Infoshare – Statistics New Zealand accessed 26 May 2025.
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