Four in nine New Zealanders report the first time they consumed a large amount of alcohol on one drinking occasion was when they were 15 to 17-years-old). The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) advises that for young people aged 15 to17 years, the safest option is to delay drinking for as long as possible. HPA’s Attitudes and Behaviour towards Alcohol Survey (ABAS) monitors New Zealanders’ behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol, including those related to last month alcohol consumption. This fact sheet reports on alcohol use among those aged 15-17 years.
Methodology
Participants in the 2013 ABAS were asked about their consumption of alcohol in the last four weeks and their experiences related to drinking alcohol. There were 180 respondents aged 15-17 years in the ABAS. Responses were examined only by gender, as the sample of 15 to 17-year-olds was not large enough to enable breakdown by further subgroups. Risky alcohol consumption (five or more drinks of alcohol on one occasion) was examined by frequency of alcohol consumption, defined as alcohol consumed on one day, two days, or three or more days in the last four weeks. Multiple responses were permitted when respondents were asked about their experiences after drinking alcohol.
Only those group differences that were statistically significant (p < .05) are reported.
Key Results
• Thirty-eight percent of 15 to 17-year-olds had consumed alcohol at least once in the past month.
• Seventy-eight percent of 15 to 17-year-olds (of the total population, non-drinkers included) had never consumed alcohol at a risky level (five or more drinks) in the last month.
• Those (who consumed alcohol in the past month) who had ever engaged in risky alcohol consumption in the last month were likely to drink alcohol more frequently compared with those who had not engaged in risky alcohol consumption.
• The most common experiences after consuming alcohol in the last four weeks were: feeling good, happy or relaxed; ability to de-stress and wind down; feeling more confident; meeting new friends or people; getting drunk or intoxicated; and having too much to drink on an occasion.
• Females were more likely than males to have reported getting drunk or intoxicated after drinking in the last four weeks.