According to ALAC (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand), a binge drinker is a person who has consumed five or more standard drinks in one session, if they are under the age of 18, or seven or more standard drinks in one session, if they are over 18 years of age.
An adult “Moderate Drinker” is a person, aged 18 and over, who currently drinks alcohol, but did NOT consume seven or more standard drinks on their last drinking occasion.
A young “Moderate Drinker” is a person, under 18/25 years of age, who currently drinks alcohol, but did NOT consume five or more standard drinks on their last drinking occasion.
One standard drink is equal to 10 grams of alcohol.
Profile of Adult Drinkers
63 percent of adults 18 years or older in 2009-10 can be classified as “Moderate Drinkers” and 21 percent as “Binge Drinkers”.
The average number of drinks consumed by “Moderate Drinkers” is 3.1 compared with 13.8 drinks for “Binge Drinkers”.
Thirteen percent of “Drinkers” reported they got drunk on the last occasion and seven percent of “Drinkers” had planned to do so.
Over one-third of “Binge Drinkers” had got drunk on their last drinking occasion (38 percent) compared with four percent of “Moderate Drinkers”.
Twenty-one percent of “Binge Drinkers” had planned to get drunk compared with two percent of “Moderate Drinkers”.
“Moderate Drinkers” are more likely than “Binge Drinkers” to have drunk in their own home on their last drinking occasion (59 percent compared with 31 percent), while “Binge Drinkers” are more likely to have drunk in a friend’s/relative’s home (30 percent compared with 11 percent).
“Binge Drinkers” are also more likely to have consumed alcohol in a pub (13 percent compared with seven percent for “Moderate Drinkers”).
Compared with “Non-drinkers”, “Drinkers” are significantly more likely to be:
• Younger (42 percent of “Drinkers” are aged between 18-39 years of age compared 30 percent of “Non-drinkers”).
• New Zealand European (85 percent vs 76 percent). “Non-drinkers” are significantly more likely to be Pacific peoples (12 percent vs four percent).
• Have household incomes of $50,000 or more (64 percent vs 45 percent).
• Found in medium-sized towns or large cities (71 percent vs 61 percent).
“Drinkers” are as likely to be male as they are female. However, “Non-drinkers” are significantly more likely to be female than male (65 percent vs 35 percent).
Compared with “Moderate Drinkers”, “Binge Drinkers” are significantly more likely to be:
• Male (58 percent of “Binge Drinkers” cf. 47 percent of “Moderate Drinkers”).
• Younger (61 percent are aged between 18-39 years of age cf. 35 percent).
• Mäori (20 percent cf. nine percent) or Pacific peoples (eight percent cf. two percent) and less likely to be New Zealand European (72 percent cf. 89 percent).
• Live in households in which children aged 15 or younger also live (45 percent cf. 39 percent).
• Earn less than $50,000 per annum (30 percent cf. 22 percent).
Profile of Young Drinkers
This refers to young people aged 12-17.
15 percent of New Zealand youth (aged 12-17 years) can be classified as “Binge Drinkers”, 17 percent as “Moderate Drinkers” and 68 percent as “Non-drinkers”.
On average, most 12-17 year old “Drinkers” consumed alcohol 3.2 days per month.
Over one-quarter of 12-17 year old “Drinkers” stated they got drunk on their last drinking occasion (28 percent), with 17 percent reporting they had set out to get drunk.
Almost four times as many young “Binge Drinkers” got drunk on their last drinking occasion compared with young “Moderate Drinkers” (45 percent cf. 12 percent).
Six times as many young “Binge Drinkers” compared to young “Moderate Drinkers” had planned to get drunk (30 percent cf. five percent).
Beer and RTD’s (both 36 percent) are the ‘drinks of choice’ for 12-17 year old “Drinkers”, with these types of alcohol most frequently identified as being mainly consumed on their last drinking occasion. Note, however, that 17 percent of young “Drinkers” stated they had mainly consumed spirits on the last drinking occasion.
Beer (47 percent), rather than RTD’s (23 percent) are the ‘drinks of choice’ for young “Moderate Drinkers”.
In comparison, RTD’s (51 percent) is the drink of choice for young “Binge Drinkers”, followed by beer (24 percent) and spirits (22 percent).
Drinking most frequently occurs in friends’ or relatives’ homes (44 percent) or at home (33 percent), and typically in relation to a party of some type (56 percent).
Young “Moderate Drinkers” are more likely to be drinking at home (50 percent).
In comparison, young “Binge Drinkers” are more likely to be drinking at a friend’s house (63 percent). They are also more likely to identify the event as ‘just a drinking occasion than “Moderate Drinkers” (19 percent cf. seven percent).
Most young “Drinkers” report having started drinking more than the occasional sip by the time they were 15 years of age (70 percent). However, 21 percent state this was the case by the age of 13 – a result which applies to both gender groups and all three ethnic groups.
Compared with young “Non-drinkers”, young “Drinkers” are significantly more likely to be:
• Older (i.e. 15-17 years of age) (85 percent cf. 34 percent).
• Live in households with two parents/guardians (78 percent), both of whom drink alcohol (60 percent). While “Non-drinkers” also live in households with two parents/guardians (83 percent), only one of their parents/guardians is likely to drink alcohol (80 percent).
• Working part-time (19 percent cf. six percent) and be in tertiary training (eight percent cf. one percent).
Compared with young “Moderate Drinkers”, young “Binge Drinkers” are significantly more likely to be:
• Young “Binge Drinkers” are more likely than “Moderate Drinkers” to be aged 15-17 (88 percent cf. 77 percent).
• Young “Binge Drinkers” are more likely than “Moderate Drinkers” to be Mäori (31 percent cf.14 percent). In contrast, young “Moderate Drinkers” are more likely to be New Zealand European (82 percent cf. 64 percent).
Young “Moderate Drinkers” are more likely than “Binge Drinkers” to be at school (90 percent cf. 80 percent), although “Binge Drinkers” are more likely to be working part-time (25 percent cf. 18 percent).