The alcohol industry in New Zealand
It is important to learn about the alcohol industry as they are have a large influence on national and local alcohol decisions in New Zealand.
In New Zealand, the production and sale of alcohol is a multi-billion dollar industry. The key players can be broadly categorised into four groups:
- Growers – e.g. vineyards;
- Manufacturers - wineries, breweries and distillers;
- Retail distributors - supermarkets, bottle stores, grocery stores
- Hospitality sector – cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs.
This section will focus on the alcohol industry as it relates to consumption in New Zealand.
Background: What New Zealanders drink
Because a tax is placed on all alcohol products, every 3 months (when the amount of tax paid on alcohol is released) we can see how much alcohol is available for consumption in New Zealand and how much is exported. From the domestic figures released by Statistics New Zealand, in the year 2017 [7]:
-
476 million litres of alcoholic drinks were available for domestic consumption:
- 289 million litres of beer
- 111 million litres of wine
- 77 million litres of spirits and spirit-based drinks
By volume, we drink almost three-times as much beer than wine. However, by alcohol content or standard drinks, 12.6 million litres of pure alcohol comes from beer, 11.5 million litres from wine, and 10 million litres from spirits. This totals 34.2 million litres of pure alcohol per year, or 8.8 litres per person aged over 15 years. On average, this means that every New Zealander drinks almost 2 standard drinks per day. However, in reality, we know that rather than New Zealanders drinking small amounts daily, around half of all alcohol in New Zealand is consumed in heavy drinking sessions.
Generally, about 87% of all the alcohol sold in New Zealand is produced locally, and 13% is imported. Bottled spirits are more frequently imported in comparison to beer and RTDs which are often made in New Zealand. We also export about 32% of all alcohol made in New Zealand [42].
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The largest producers of alcohol in New Zealand
The two major alcohol producers in New Zealand are Lion Pty Ltd and DB Breweries Ltd. Both companies are owned overseas. Among the top five producers, only Delegat’s wine is a New Zealand-owned company [42].
|
Ranking |
Company |
Beverage sector |
Ownership |
Turnover ($NZmillion 2011) |
|
1 |
Lion |
Beer, RTDs, Spirits, wine |
Japan (Kirin Holdings) |
605 |
|
2 |
DB |
Beer, RTDs |
Netherlands (Heineken) |
461 |
|
3 |
Independent Liquor |
Beer, RTDs, spirits, wine |
Japan (Asahi Group Holdings) |
414 |
|
4 |
Pernod Ricard |
Wine, spirits |
France |
337 |
|
5 |
Delegat's Group Limited |
Wine |
NZ |
220 |
The beer industry
Two major breweries dominate the New Zealand beer market: Lion and DB Breweries. The key consumers of beer in New Zealand are young adult males.
Although beer became available in supermarkets in 1999, there has been a downward trend in the volume of beer sold in New Zealand, from 322 million litres in 2008 to 282 million litres in 2015. Since 2016, the volume of beer available for consumption rose 3.7 percent from the previous year, to 292 million litres. In 2017, there was 289 million litres of beer was available for consumption [7,45].
Recent trends show that there has been growth in sales volumes of premium brand craft beers and also in low-strength beer (following the introduction of the lower blood alcohol limits for drivers) [57].
The wine industry
There are over 670 wineries in New Zealand. By far the biggest wine producers in New Zealand are Lion (Japan), Pernod Ricard (French), Treasury Estate Wines (NZ), Delegats Wine Group (NZ), Constellation Wines (USA), and Villa Maria (NZ) [46].
Since becoming available for sale in supermarkets in 1989, consumption of wine has more than doubled (from 59 million litres in 2009 to 109 million litres in 2016). New Zealand research has shown that the introduction of wine into supermarkets had a significant impact on consumption [48-49]. Today, around 60% of all wine is sold through supermarkets.
Wine has shown the greatest increases in affordability over time. Today, New Zealanders drink almost twice as much white wine as red wine.
Wine contributes significantly to trade. It is New Zealand’s fifth largest export good [46].
It is important to note that New Zealand is only major wine producing nation to have a single industry body, representing and advocating for the interests of its entire grape and wine industry. This is called the New Zealand Winegrowers Association.
The spirits and RTD industry
In 2016, 13 million litres of spirits and 59 million litres of spirit-based beverages (RTDs) were available for domestic consumption. RTD sales increased from 28 million litres in 2001 and then reached its peak in 2012 at 62 million litres. Between 2013 and 2016, the average sale volume of RTD was 56.9 million litres (range: 53.9 to 59.3 million litres). In 2017, the volume of RTD available rose 6.4 per cent from previous year, to 63.1 million litres [7].
In 2010, Minister of Justice Simon Power announced plans to prohibit the sale of RTDs with greater than 5% alcohol content or 1.5 standard drinks per container. However, this plan never came to fruition and the Government decided not to introduce regulations regarding the maximum strength of an RTD, but rather, permit manufacturers to set up their own rules. The industry decided that the maximum strength of an RTD would be 7% or two standard drinks per bottle or can [50].
Sprits are consumed by all age groups and across both sexes. Pure spirits are more often consumed by older age groups whilst RTDs are preferentially consumed by young men and women.
Since the introduction of RTDs the volume of spirits-based drinks has trebled, from 28 million litres in 2001 to 59 million litres in 2016. There is strong evidence the since the introduction of RTDs into the market increased alcohol consumption markedly among young females aged 14 to 17 years [52].
The largest retailers of alcohol in New Zealand
In New Zealand, the purchasing of alcohol from off-licences has increased over time. From 1986 to 2016, the proportion of all alcohol sold was from off-licences increased from approximately 59% to 75% [1].
The 4000-plus off-licences in New Zealand comprises bottle stores, grocery stores, supermarkets, winemakers, taverns/hotels, breweries, catering companies, and others. Over one-quarter of off-licences are standalone bottle stores, whilst >10% are grocery stores, and 10% are supermarkets [54].
Supermarkets
The supermarket (which can only sell beer, wine (includes cider) and mead) is the most widely used channel for purchasing alcohol.
Alcohol sales from supermarkets have changed considerably over time. In 2000, the supermarket share of beer sales was 12% and for wine it was 43%. In 2008, they sold around 30% of all beer and just under 60% of all wine. In 2008 it was estimated that beer and wine sales in supermarkets were worth $1billion [1].
There are two major supermarket chains in New Zealand: Progressive Enterprises (184 Countdown stores, 62 Fresh Choice and Supervalue stores) and Foodstuffs (140 New World stores, >50 PaknSave stores, 240 Four Square stores).
The Ministry of Justice has stated that the price is so cheap that many smaller bottle stores buy their alcohol products from supermarkets [42].
New Zealand research has shown that the introduction of wine into supermarkets had a significant impact on consumption [48][49].
Today, around 250,000 residents of West Auckland cannot buy alcohol from their supermarkets as off-licence supply is controlled by the Portage and Waitakere Licensing Trusts. No supermarkets in the Invercargill Licensing Trust can sell alcohol.
Bottle stores
There are over 1000 bottle stores in New Zealand [54]. It is important to know that many of these are owned by larger alcohol producers and retailers.
For example, Liquorland and Henry’s Beer Wines & Spirits are owned by Foodstuffs. In 2016, Foodstuffs bought the retail chain The Mill Liquorsave from Independent Liquor Ltd, and rebranded them as Liquorland stores. Liquor King, is owned by Lion.
Hospitality sector (on-licences)
The number of on-licences has trebled from 2423 in 1990 to 7565 in 2010 [1]. From 2000 to 2009 there was a 26% increase in the number of pubs and a 37% increase in the number of licensed cafés and restaurants.
The NZ Hospitality Association plays a major role in the supply of alcohol in the on-licence sector, representing 3,000 hospitality and commercial accommodation businesses throughout the country. The Association advocates on behalf of its members. They have been involved as an interested party in the appeals to Local Alcohol Policies around New Zealand.
The Restaurant Association of New Zealand also represents the interests of those working in the restaurant business.
Cost of alcohol to society
Costs outweigh revenue from alcohol
The revenue the Government receives from alcohol taxes does not match the costs of alcohol-related harm to our society.
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In 2017, alcohol contributed $1.0 billion of government revenue in the form of excise tax [17].
Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost New Zealand society $5 billion each year (expressed in 2005/06 currency) [18]. This includes costs to individuals such as car insurance, lost wages and medical treatments, as well as cost to the government such as healthcare costs, road crashes, police and justice [18].
In comparison to alcohol, the social cost of other drug-related harms and intervention is estimated to be at $1.6 billion (expressed in 2005/06 currency) [18] and $1.8 billion in 2014/15 [19].
It is estimated that :
- 11% of all ACC claims are attributed to alcohol-related injuries [20].
- 18% of the New Zealand Police budget is spent on alcohol incidents.
Cost to productivity
Alcohol also results in loss of productivity in workplaces and schools -
- In 2012/13, male drinkers (4%) were 1.6 times more likely to be absent from work or studies than female drinkers (2.5%) [15]; and
- In 2012/13, male drinkers (6.9%) were 1.4 times more likely to experience negative financial effects due to their drinking than female drinkers [15].
- Every year, 147,500 adults take one or more days off work or school due to their alcohol use [21]. A total of 84,400 adults have experienced harmful effects on their work, study or employment because of alcohol [21].
- In 2012, 6% of adolescent drinkers report having their work or school affected in the last year due to alcohol [22]. Among those students living in the most deprived areas, 8% report problems with work or school (exacerbating existing inequities in outcomes) [22].
Our Drinking Environment
Our drinking landscape - alcohol is over-supplied and advertised heavily
Our drinking landscape has changed considerably over the last 30 years. We have seen dramatic increases in the number of places selling alcohol, the affordability and types of alcoholic products available, and use of innovative marketing strategies to advertise them.
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Beginning in 1989, new liquor laws increased the availability of alcohol across New Zealand [1] - wine and beer became available in supermarkets and grocery stores in 1989 and 1999 respectively [1]; the minimum legal age to purchase alcohol was reduced from 20 to 18 years in 1999.
The number of places that sold alcohol more than doubled from to 6,300 in 1990 to 14,200 in 2009 [2].
Today, around 75% of all alcohol in New Zealand is sold from off-licences: 43% from bottle stores and 32% from supermarkets and grocery stores [1].
More liquor outlets are concentrated in poor suburbs than rich suburbs [3].
The increasingly availability of Ready to Drinks (RTDs) has had a huge impact on heavy drinking in New Zealand, particularly among young girls.
Alcohol has become more affordable over time [4].
In 2009, it was estimated that $200,000 was spent each day advertising alcohol in New Zealand [5].
Within prime-time television viewing in New Zealand, a scene depicting alcohol occurs every 9 minutes [6].
In New Zealand, $85 million is spent per week on alcohol ($4-5 billion per year).
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Drinking in New Zealand
In 2017/18, almost 4 in every 5 New Zealand adults (78.7%) drank alcohol in the past year.
In relation to hazardous drinking (8 points or more on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)), in 2017/18 [8]:
- around 775,000 NZ adults were hazardous drinkers (19.8% of New Zealand adults 15 years and above)
- more than one-third (38.1%) of young men (aged 18 to 24 years) were hazardous drinkers
- males (27.3%) were twice as likely as females (12.7%) to be hazardous drinkers
- young adults aged 18 to 24 years had the highest rate (17%) of weekly heavy drinking (six or more drinks standard drinks on one occasion)
Almost 1 in 5 New Zealanders have a drinking pattern that places them and/or others at risk of harm
Drinking in the past year
The prevalence of consuming any alcoholic drink in the past 12-months is shown below:
Table 1. Prevalence (%) of past-year drinking among the total population, 2017/18 NZ Health Survey.
|
GROUP |
TOTAL (%) |
MALE (%) |
FEMALE (%) |
EST. NUMBER |
|
Total |
78.7 |
82.9 |
74.8 |
3,082,000 |
|
Age group (years) |
|
|
|
|
|
15-17 |
57.4 |
54.3 |
60.7 |
113,000 |
|
18-24 |
83.6 |
84.6 |
82.4 |
398,000 |
|
25-34 |
79.6 |
84.4 |
74.8 |
557,000 |
|
35-44 |
82.3 |
88.1 |
76.8 |
482,000 |
|
45-54 |
82.9 |
86.2 |
79.8 |
529,000 |
|
55-64 |
80.5 |
83.9 |
77.3 |
466,000 |
|
65-74 |
77.6 |
82.7 |
72.8 |
331,000 |
|
75+ |
66.2 |
77.3 |
57.4 |
206,000 |
|
Ethnic group (total response) |
|
|
|
|
|
Māori |
79.7 |
80.1 |
79.4 |
396,000 |
|
Pacific |
54.4 |
60.0 |
49.4 |
135,000 |
|
Asian |
55.5 |
66.6 |
44.5 |
291,000 |
|
European/Other |
84.9 |
87.9 |
81.9 |
2,535,000 |
|
Neighbourhood deprivation |
|
|
|
|
|
Quintile 1 (least deprived) |
85.8 |
92.1 |
79.8 |
678,000 |
|
Quintile 2 |
81.3 |
84.3 |
78.3 |
647,000 |
|
Quintile 3 |
81.4 |
84.7 |
78.3 |
642,000 |
|
Quintile 4 |
77.5 |
81.3 |
73.9 |
617,000 |
|
Quintile 5 (most deprived) |
67.0 |
70.9 |
63.5 |
499,000 |
Statistically significant subgroup comparisons (adjusted by age / sex / ethnic group):
- Men were significantly more likely to drink than women.
- Māori women were significantly more likely to drink than non-Māori women.
- Pacific men/women were significantly less likely to drink than non-Pacific men/women.
- Asian men/women were significantly less likely to drink than non-Asian men/women.
- Men/women living in the most deprived neighbourhoods were significantly less likely to drink than men/women living in the least deprived neighbourhoods.
Changes over time
There have been significant declines in past-year drinking, among most demographic (age, sex, ethnicity) groups in New Zealand. These reductions were particularly evident between 2006/07 and 2011/12, and especially among 15-17 year olds (from 74.5% in 2006/07 to 59.6% in 2011/12).
From 2011/12 onwards, this lower prevalence of drinking has been maintained. In 2017/18, the following groups had a significantly lower prevalence of drinking than in 2006/07: New Zealand total population; New Zealand men; New Zealand women; those aged 15-17 years, 18-24 years, 25-34 years, 55-64 years, 75+ years; Māori men; Pacific men; men of European/other ethnicity; women of European/other ethnicity. Compared to the previous survey, a significant reduction in past-year drinking was observed among Pacific men (from 71.3% in 2016/17 to 60.0% in 2017/18).
Figure 1. Unadjusted prevalence of drinking in the past 12 months, NZ Health Surveys 2006/07 to 2017/18.
Hazardous drinking
The prevalence of hazardous drinking in the total population in 2017/18 is shown below:
Table 2. Prevalence (%) of hazardous drinking, 2017/18 New Zealand Health Survey.
|
GROUP |
TOTAL (%) |
MALE (%) |
FEMALE (%) |
EST. NUMBER |
||||
|
Total |
19.8 |
27.3 |
12.7 |
775,000 |
||||
|
Age group (years) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
15-17 |
7.2 |
7.8 |
6.7 |
14,000 |
||||
|
18-24 |
31.7 |
38.1 |
24.8 |
151,000 |
||||
|
25-34 |
25.3 |
34.6 |
15.9 |
177,000 |
||||
|
35-44 |
22.0 |
29.1 |
15.4 |
129,000 |
||||
|
45-54 |
22.2 |
29.9 |
15.0 |
141,000 |
||||
|
55-64 |
16.1 |
25.2 |
7.7 |
93,000 |
||||
|
65-74 |
12.5 |
19.5 |
5.9 |
53,000 |
||||
|
75+ |
5.1 |
9.5 |
1.6 |
16,000 |
||||
|
Ethnic group (total response) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Māori |
31.7 |
38.7 |
25.3 |
156,000 |
||||
|
Pacific |
19.1 |
27.0 |
12.1 |
47,000 |
||||
|
Asian |
6.5 |
10.9 |
2.2 |
34,000 |
||||
|
European/Other |
21.2 |
29.5 |
13.3 |
634,000 |
||||
|
Neighbourhood deprivation |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Quintile 1 (least deprived) |
16.2 |
23.9 |
8.8 |
128,000 |
||||
|
Quintile 2 |
19.5 |
29.0 |
9.8 |
155,000 |
||||
|
Quintile 3 |
21.4 |
29.1 |
14.2 |
169,000 |
||||
|
Quintile 4 |
20.5 |
26.6 |
14.7 |
163,000 |
||||
|
Quintile 5 (most deprived) |
21.5 |
27.8 |
15.9 |
160,000 |
||||
Statistically significant subgroup comparisons (adjusted by age / sex / ethnic group):
- Men were significantly more likely to drink hazardously than women.
- Māori men/women were significantly more likely to drink hazardously than non-Māori men/women.
- All persons/women living in the most deprived neighbourhoods were significantly more likely to drink hazardously than all persons/women living in the least deprived neighbourhoods.
- Asian men/Asian women were significantly less likely to drink hazardously than non-Asian men/women.
Changes over time
As noted, changes in the NZ Health Survey only permit comparisons in hazardous drinking between the following surveys: 2006/07 to 2015/16 and from 2015/16 to 2017/18.
From 2006/07 to 2015/16
From 2006/07 to 2011/12, the proportion of adults classified as hazardous drinkers significantly decreased from 18.0% to 14.9%. Large reductions were noted in adolescents and young adults.
Adolescents and young adults maintained their lower levels of hazardous drinking, having a significantly lower prevalence in 2015/16 when compared to 2006/07. However, prevalence remained unacceptably high.
Older groups moved in a different direction. By 2015/16, hazardous drinking was significantly higher in the overall population when compared to 2011/12 (19.3% versus 14.9%). The prevalence of hazardous drinking among women significantly increased by 43% (from 8.6% in 2011/12 to 12.3% in 2015/16). In the same period, significant increases were found among those aged 35-44 years (16.0% to 22.3%), 45-54 years (11.7% to 18.5%), 55-64 years (8.4% to 14.4%), and 65-74 years (5.5% to 10.0%).
By 2015/16, most of the positive reductions made between 2006/07 and 2011/12 had been lost (except among young people). Rather, many groups had a higher prevalence of hazardous drinking in 2015/16 than in 2006/07 (i.e. Māori women, persons of European/other ethnicity, 35-44 year olds, 45-54 year olds, and 65-74 year olds).
From 2015/16 to 2017/18
Since 2015/16, the overall prevalence of hazardous drinking has stabilised in the overall population - from 20.8% in 2015/16 to 19.8% in 2017/18. During this period, no significant changes in hazardous drinking have occurred in any group characterised by age, sex, or ethnicity.
Changes over time in the prevalence of hazardous drinking in the total population are shown below:
Table 3. Prevalence (%) of hazardous drinking, 2006/07 to 2017/18 NZ Health Surveys.
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|
Prevalence (%) over comparable years |
Prevalence (%) over comparable years |
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|
|
2006/07 |
2011/12 |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
2014/15 |
2015/16 |
|
2015/16 |
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
|
|
Total |
18.0 |
14.9 |
15.4 |
16.4 |
17.7 |
19.311 |
20.8 |
19.5 |
19.8 |
||
|
Men |
26.0 |
21.606 |
22.0 |
22.1 |
24.7 |
26.611 |
28.6 |
27.1 |
27.3 |
||
|
Women |
10.6 |
8.606 |
9.1 |
11.0 |
11.1 |
12.311 |
13.4 |
12.4 |
12.7 |
||
|
Age group |
|
||||||||||
|
15-17 |
19.5 |
11.7 |
8.0 |
15.3 |
10.8 |
11.506 |
7.9 |
7.6 |
7.2 |
||
|
18-24 |
43.2 |
29.9 |
32.4 |
33.4 |
33.9 |
32.606 |
37.1 |
32.9 |
31.7 |
||
|
25-34 |
23.9 |
24.8 |
24.4 |
23.9 |
21.9 |
27.614 |
27.1 |
26.3 |
25.3 |
||
|
35-44 |
16.6 |
16.0 |
16.6 |
15.9 |
19.5 |
22.306, 11 |
22.3 |
22.2 |
22.0 |
||
|
45-54 |
12.2 |
11.7 |
12.9 |
16.3 |
18.3 |
18.506, 11 |
22.9 |
21.0 |
22.2 |
||
|
55-64 |
12.1 |
8.4 |
9.1 |
10.1 |
13.2 |
14.411 |
16.4 |
14.8 |
16.1 |
||
|
65-74 |
7.3 |
5.5 |
5.3 |
5.7 |
8.8 |
10.006, 11 |
10.1 |
10.5 |
12.5 |
||
|
75+ |
3.6 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
1.8 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
4.4 |
4.1 |
5.1 |
||
|
Ethnic group |
|
||||||||||
|
Total Māori |
33.5 |
28.606 |
30.6 |
30.9 |
32.4 |
32.911 |
31.1 |
33.0 |
31.7 |
||
|
Māori men |
43.5 |
37.1 |
38.8 |
37.2 |
38.4 |
36.9 |
37.9 |
39.0 |
38.7 |
||
|
Māori women |
24.2 |
20.9 |
23.1 |
25.2 |
27.0 |
29.406, 11 |
24.8 |
27.6 |
25.3 |
||
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Total Pacific |
23.4 |
19.3 |
17.2 |
20.1 |
23.4 |
21.1 |
23.5 |
23.4 |
19.1 |
||
|
Pacific men |
33.7 |
29.6 |
27.4 |
27.0 |
34.8 |
29.4 |
36.0 |
32.3 |
27.0 |
||
|
Pacific women |
14.0 |
10.7 |
8.6 |
13.7 |
13.7 |
13.3 |
14.1 |
15.2 |
12.1 |
||
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Total Asian |
5.7 |
4.2 |
5.1 |
3.7 |
4.7 |
4.7 |
7.2 |
6.6 |
6.5 |
||
|
Asian men |
10.1 |
6.9 |
7.8 |
4.7 |
7.6 |
7.2 |
11.7 |
9.7 |
10.9 |
||
|
Asian women |
1.8 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
2.6 |
1.7 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
3.2 |
2.2 |
||
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
Total European/Other |
17.9 |
14.8 |
15.2 |
16.7 |
17.9 |
20.406, 11,14 |
21.8 |
20.0 |
21.2 |
||
|
European/Other men |
26.2 |
21.8 |
22.3 |
22.9 |
25.7 |
29.011,14 |
30.4 |
28.4 |
29.5 |
||
|
European/Other women |
10.2 |
8.1 |
8.6 |
10.8 |
10.4 |
12.311 |
13.9 |
12.2 |
13.3 |
||
|
Neighbourhood deprivation (1=low, 5=high) |
|
||||||||||
|
Quintile 1 men |
24.9 |
16.5 |
17.7 |
18.0 |
20.7 |
24.2 |
24.7 |
23.5 |
23.9 |
||
|
Quintile 2 men |
22.4 |
21.8 |
22.2 |
19.6 |
21.0 |
27.5 |
25.0 |
21.1 |
29.0 |
||
|
Quintile 3 men |
25.9 |
20.3 |
19.9 |
24.5 |
25.4 |
24.6 |
29.5 |
29.8 |
29.1 |
||
|
Quintile 4 men |
27.2 |
25.7 |
24.5 |
22.7 |
28.2 |
27.1 |
30.5 |
30.2 |
36.6 |
||
|
Quintile 5 men |
30.1 |
24.8 |
26.8 |
26.1 |
29.1 |
30.1 |
34.3 |
31.4 |
27.8 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Quintile 1 women |
9.0 |
3.9 |
5.6 |
7.1 |
6.7 |
7.6 |
13.6 |
9.5 |
8.8 |
||
|
Quintile 2 women |
8.8 |
7.4 |
7.0 |
9.5 |
8.7 |
13.3 |
9.6 |
9.7 |
9.8 |
||
|
Quintile 3 women |
9.4 |
8.2 |
8.5 |
11.8 |
8.8 |
9.7 |
13.9 |
13.8 |
14.2 |
||
|
Quintile 4 women |
10.3 |
11.3 |
9.5 |
10.4 |
13.7 |
15.0 |
13.7 |
13.4 |
14.7 |
||
|
Quintile 5 women |
15.8 |
12.2 |
15.1 |
16.6 |
17.5 |
15.8 |
16.1 |
15.5 |
15.9 |
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06 significantly lower than 2006/07
06 significantly higher than 2006/07
11 significantly higher than in 2011/12
14 significantly higher than in 2014/15
Note: changes over time are not analysed by Neighbourhood Deprivation. Limited subgroup comparisons were made between the 2006/07 and 2011/12 surveys - only the significant changes noted in the 2011/12 survey report are shown.
Women are becoming a higher proportion of hazardous drinkers
The proportion of all hazardous drinkers that are women increased from 28.5% in 2011/12 to 31.6% in 2015/16.
Significantly more Maori women are drinking hazardously in 2015/16 (29.4%) than in 2006/07 (24.2%).
Adolescent drinking
Drinking in the last 12 months among 15-17 year olds
The New Zealand Health Survey shows 50,000 fewer 15-17 year olds drinking in 2016/17 than 2006/07. This is a fantastic change to see - but we still have a long way to go as over half of all young people in this age group are drinking.
| Year | Males | Females | Total | # |
| 2006/07 | 75.3 | 73.8 | 74.4 | 164,000 |
| 2011/12 | 59.8 | 59.3 | 59.6 | 115,000 |
| 2012/13 | 57.1 | 54.7 | 55.9 | 104,000 |
| 2013/14 | 59.0 | 62.4 | 60.6 | 116,000 |
| 2014/15 | 56.4 | 57.8 | 57.1 | 111,000 |
| 2015/16 | 56.2 | 58.2 | 57.2 | 114,000 |
| 2016/17 | 56.1 | 56.6 | 56.3 | 110,000 |
| 2017/18 | 54.3 | 60.7 | 57.4 | 113,000 |
Hazardous drinking among 15-17 year olds
We have witnessed great declines in the prevalence of young people being classified as a hazardous drinker. ‘Hazardous drinking’ refers to an established alcohol drinking pattern that carries a risk of harming the drinker’s physical or mental health or having harmful social effects on the drinker or others.
The prevalence of hazardous drinking from the New Zealand Health Survey is shown below. The number of hazardous drinkers almost halved from 2006/07 to 2015/16!
| Year | Males | Females | Total | Estimated # |
| 2006/07 | 21.3 | 17.6 | 19.5 | 43,000 |
| 2011/12 | 13.5 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 23,000 |
| 2012/13 | 10.7 | 5.1 | 8 | 15,000 |
| 2013/14 | 14.5 | 16.2 | 15.3 | 29,000 |
| 2014/15 | 11.5 | 10.1 | 10.8 | 21,000 |
| 2015/16 | 14.5 | 8.5 | 11.5 | 24,000 |
The question in the survey then changed, so using the new question only comparisons can be made from 2015/16 onwards. This shows the following:
| Year | Males | Females | Total | Estimated # |
| 2015/16 | 9 | 6.7 | 7.9 | 15,000 |
| 2016/17 | 7.7 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 15,000 |
| 2017/18 | 7.8 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 14,000 |
Among all secondary school students (not just those aged 15-17 years), fewer were choosing to drink in 2012 (61%) than in 2007 (45%).
However, adolescents who do drink continue to drink large amounts. Of particular concern, young adolescent females in New Zealand may actually be increasing the volume of alcohol they consume when drinking [9]. It is believed that young people are drinking on fewer occasions, but are still drinking heavily (i.e. the culture of heavy drinking and drunkenness has not really changed).
For more information on adolescent drinking, click the button ADOLESCENT DRINKING
What we drink
In 2017, 476 million litres of alcoholic drinks were available for sale in New Zealand [7]:
- 289 million litres of beer (12.6 million litres of pure alcohol)
- 111 million litres of wine (11.5 million litres of pure alcohol)
- 77 million litres or spirits and spirit-based drinks (10.1 million litres of pure alcohol).
This is a small (0.5%) increase from 2016 (474 million litres) [55].
By volume, we drink more beer (289m litres) than wine (111m litres) or spirits (77m litres).
However, the share of pure alcohol being consumed is almost equal across beer (12.6m litres), wine (11.5m litres) and spirits (10.1m litres).
A consumption of 476 million litres equates to 34 million litres of pure alcohol, or 8.8 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 and above [7]. To put this into perspective, it is the same as every person aged over 18 years consuming two standard drinks per person every day of the year (i.e. 2 cans of beer (330ml, 4% alcohol) or 2 glasses of wine (12.5%; 100ml) [7]).
However, in reality we know that approximately 42% of all alcohol sold in New Zealand is consumed in heavy drinking occasions [ref}.
New Zealand drinking compared to other countries
New Zealanders typically drink a large amount of alcohol in a drinking occasion. Although we drink less (overall) than the Irish and British (and slightly less than Australians), we drink more than Americans, Canadians and South Africans.
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