HPA's Attitudes and Behaviour towards Alcohol Survey (ABAS) is an annual survey that monitors New Zealanders' behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol. This fact sheet reports on adults’ alcohol consumption and experiences of drinking alcohol within the last month.
Purpose
The amount of alcohol consumed and frequency of alcohol use are important factors in reducing long-term health risk and the risk of injury or harm on a single drinking occasion (Health Promotion Agency, 2014; NHMRC, 2009). In New Zealand these factors differ by age, gender and ethnicity (Ministry of Health, 2015). The Health Promotion Agency’s (HPA’s) Attitudes and Behaviour towards Alcohol Survey (ABAS) monitors behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol, focusing on use within the last month and the last drinking occasion. This fact sheet reports on adults’ (age 18 and over) alcohol consumption and experiences within the last month.
Methodology
Respondents to the 2014/15 ABAS were asked about their consumption of alcohol in the last four weeks and their experiences related to drinking alcohol. There were 3,808 adults (people aged 18 and over). Alcohol consumption was assessed by examining two variables; frequency of alcohol use and risky drinking in the last four weeks. Frequency of alcohol use was defined as the number of days where alcohol was consumed within the last four weeks; 1 to 3 days, 4 to 8 days and 9 or more days. Risky drinking was defined as the number of occasions in the last four weeks where seven or more alcoholic drinks were consumed: none, 1 to 2 times, and 3 or more times. Multiple responses were permitted when respondents were asked about their experiences after drinking alcohol over the last month.
Responses to these questions were compared by gender, age and ethnicity. Only statistically significant differences (p < .05) between groups are reported.
Key Results
• Around two-thirds of adults reported consuming alcohol in the last four weeks, with males more likely to do so than females.
• Overall, of those who drank alcohol in the last four weeks, over one-third consumed alcohol on up to three days, under one-third between four to eight days, and one-third on nine or more days during the last four weeks.
• Of those who drank alcohol in the last four weeks, one-quarter reported consuming at risky levels (seven or more drinks) on at least one occasion over the last four weeks. Males were more likely to do so than females, as were 18 to 24-year-olds compared with all other age groups.
• The most common experiences reported after consuming alcohol in the last four weeks were: feeling good or happy or relaxed, able to de-stress or unwind, meeting new friends or people, feeling more confident, getting drunk or intoxicated and having too much to drink on an occasion.
• Overall, 19% of adults who consumed alcohol during the last four weeks reported at least one potentially harmful or negative experience (other than being drunk or having too much to drink). Males, 18 to 24-year-olds, Pacific people and risky drinkers were more likely to report experiencing one or more harms/negative experiences.