Public debate about alcohol in New Zealand is sometimes dominated by outdated assumptions.
The latest evidence showed a far more balanced and positive picture, one that deserves to be part of the conversation.
Alcohol consumption in New Zealand has been declining for decades
New Zealanders drink significantly less alcohol per person than they did in the 1980s, with long-term data showing a sustained downward trend in alcohol available for consumption.
“The gap between perception and reality is widening, and some claims don’t align with long-term data trends,” said NZABC Executive Director Virginia Nicholls.
Most New Zealanders drink responsibly
The NZ Health survey consistently shows that five out of six adults drink in a responsible way, and there has been an across-the-board decline in different measures of riskier drinking as compared to 2016/17. This is why targeted, evidence-based interventions are more effective than one-size-fits-all measures, which penalise responsible drinkers.
Hazardous drinking is declining
The proportion of adults classified as hazardous drinkers has declined by 22 percent from 2020 to 2025, indicating a continued shift toward more moderate drinking patterns.
Binge (heavy episodic) drinking in New Zealand is declining and is well below the OECD average:
Since 2020, binge drinking in New Zealand has declined by 21.8 percent. This also reinforces the trend towards more moderate drinking.
Compared with the OECD binge-drinking average of 27 percent (2023), New Zealand is at 17.5 percent, which is lower than many countries, including Canada, the United States, Australia, Italy, Ireland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. However, this is still too high.
More Kiwis are opting out – and some are choosing low and no alcohol options
More New Zealanders are choosing not to drink, with the proportion declining by 5.9 percent from 2012 to 2025. More consumers are also choosing low and no alcohol options, independent industry research found 50 percent said they drank low or no alcohol beverages in the past year.
Youth drinking is changing
Youth aged 15-17 years, more are not starting to drink, are drinking later, drinking less, and less hazardously than previous generations. The New Zealand Health Survey shows declining drinking prevalence and hazardous drinking among young people, reflecting the generational shift, which is a strong indicator that our drinking culture is changing.
“The evidence is clear - Kiwis are drinking less and more adults drink responsibly. Young people are drinking very differently, and we are seeing a positive generational shift. It is also important that policy decisions should be based on evidence, not outdated assumptions.”
Myth vs Fact: Alcohol in New Zealand:
- Myth: Kiwis are drinking more than ever.
Fact: The amount of alcohol available for consumption per person in NZ has declined by more than a third since 1986. - Myth: Most adults drink hazardously.
Fact: The New Zealand Health Survey reports that responsible drinking is undertaken by five out of six adults and has increased by 22 percent since 2020. Hazardous drinking occurs in one out of six adults, and although declining, it is still too high. - Myth: binge drinking in New Zealand is getting worse compared with the OECD:
Fact: New Zealanders' binge drinking is considerably lower than the OECD average and lower than in countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. - Myth: If I just wait an hour, I’ll be back to normal.
Fact: The liver can only process around one standard drink each hour (10g of pure alcohol), so alcohol can stay in your system longer than you expect, especially if you’ve had several drinks. It's also important to keep your water intake up. - Myth: A “glass” always equals one drink.
Fact: In New Zealand, one standard drink contains 10g of pure alcohol, and some drinks can be more than one standard drink, so it's important to check the label. - Myth: Having a meal or snack stops you from getting drunk
Fact: Food will not stop you from getting drunk. Eating helps slow down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed; however, the body can only process one standard drink an hour.
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