YOUNG PEOPLE

You can play an important role in giving young people the best start in life. By supporting young people to be alcohol-free, you can protect them from range of alcohol-related harms.

Families and communities can develop stong rules and messages around alcohol. All of us can be mindful around the modelling of alcohol use in front of children.

Strong laws are very important to support the actions we take. This includes laws relating to the price and availability of alcohol, its advertising and marketing, as well as the minimum purchase age (i.e. 18 years).

In New Zealand, it is illegal for any licensed premises to sell alcohol to a person under 18 years of age. It is also illegal for a young person to buy alcohol before they turn 18.

There are different rules for alcohol being supplied to a young person when they are with their parent'/guardian in a licensed premises.

This section is about young people being supplied with alcohol from licensed premises, and how you can take action to reduce harm.

Parents are a primary source of alcohol for young people in New Zealand. This section highlights the role of parental alcohol supply in alcohol-related harm.

Alcohol supplied by others (friends, siblings, older peers, etc) can be incredibly risky for a young person.

Because of this, many communities around the country are taking action to reduce the social supply of alcohol to young people. This section highights the risk from alcohol being supplied by others and enables you to take action to protect the lives of our young people.

If young people are supplied with alcohol (with consent of the parent/guardian) then it must be done in a responsible manner.

This section highlights the importance of supervision so that alcohol harms are minimised for this very vulnerable group.

Young people often look to their friends and family for support. If you know a young person who needs help because of their drinking,  read this section to find the help they need.

Strong laws are very important to protect young people. They send a strong message about the unacceptability of adolescent drinking and can support the efforts you are taking in your community to reduce harm.

This section helps you to take action on laws that relate to the price of alcohol, its advertising and marketing, its availability in your neighbourhood, and the minimum purchase age (18 years).