HPA provides low risk drinking advice for adults (people aged 18 years or older) to reduce their long term health risk and their risk of injury on a single drinking occasion. HPA’s Attitudes and Behaviour towards Alcohol Survey (ABAS) monitors New Zealanders’ use, behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol. This fact sheet reports on adults’ alcohol consumption and experiences of drinking alcohol within the last month.
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 3,817 respondents aged 18 years and over. Responses were examined by gender, age, and ethnicity. Alcohol consumption was defined by frequency of use in the last four weeks (number of days where alcohol was consumed; 1 to 4 days, 5 to 12 days and 13 or more days) and by frequency of risky drinking in the last four weeks (number of times consumed seven or more drinks on an occasion; none, 1 to 2 times and three or more times). Multiple responses were permitted when respondents were asked about their experiences after drinking alcohol.
Only group differences that were statistically significant (p < 0.05) 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, nearly one-half reported consuming alcohol between 1 to 4 days within the last four weeks. Approximately one-fifth reported consuming alcohol on 13 or more days.
• Of those who drank alcohol, one-quarter reported consuming alcohol at risky levels (seven or more drinks) on at least one or more occasions. 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, happy or relaxed; able to de-stress, unwind; meeting new friends or people; feeling more confident; getting drunk or intoxicated; and having too much to drink on an occasion.
• Overall, 13% 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).