Foreword
In 1999 Parliament lowered the minimum age at which people may legally purchase or drink alcohol on licensed premises to 18 years with one exemption, from 20 years with a number of exemptions.
This report - the fourth in a series - continues the Ministry's presentation of key statistics on the possible effects of lowering the legal minimum age at which a person may purchase or consume alcohol on licensed premises.
As in earlier reports the statistics show a mixed and partial picture of the possible impact, with no clear picture of whether the change has had a detrimental effect on young people's drinking behaviour.
A further insight into the attitudes of young people towards drinking alcohol is provided by the BRC Marketing & Social Research report, "The Way We Drink", commissioned in 2003 and published by the Alcohol Advisory Council in 2004.
The BRC survey provides the following picture for young persons aged 12 to 17 years:
- 50% were current non-drinkers;
- 14% drank a few times per year, generally under the supervision of their family or whānau;
- 22% were social binge drinkers, who drink at least once every two weeks and binge (i.e. drink more than five standard drinks per occasion); and
- 14% were uncontrolled binge drinkers.
The Ministry's report provides statistics to inform further public discussion. As noted in this report, some of the recorded changes reflect associated changes in Police enforcement practices or changes in measurement practices.
Belinda Clark
Secretary for Justice
