Increases in consumption and harms among young people in the context of alcohol policy liberalisation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
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Date
2011
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Massey University
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Abstract
Objective: To assess drinking patterns and alcohol-related harms among young people
in the context of substantial liberalising alcohol policy change in New Zealand. Five
studies were developed to address this objective which assessed: (i) trends in drinking
patterns, alcohol-related problems and harms during the time of the liberalising policy
change and (ii) specific policy changes relevant to young people in New Zealand: the
lowering of the minimum purchase age, the introduction of ready to drinks and alcohol
outlet density (alcohol outlets had proliferated due to the relaxation of the liquor
licensing system).
Methods: General population alcohol surveys and routinely collected harms datasets
were utilised. Survey measures were: typical occasion quantity, drinking frequency,
heavier drinking, self-reported drunkenness, alcohol-related problems and individual
demographic measures. Harms measures included: prosecutions for disorder offending,
prosecutions for driving with excess breath alcohol, alcohol-involved crashes (all and
fatal) and individual demographic measures. Analysis techniques utilised in Studies One
through Five were as follows: quantile regression, general linear models, broken stick
Poisson regression, logistic regression (and analysis of variance) and multi-level
modelling. When possible the wider New Zealand population was considered in relation
to young people. Young people were defined as those up to 24 years of age (inclusive).
Results: In the context of alcohol policy liberalisation young people, and in particular
teenagers, were observed to experience the greatest increases in typical occasion
quantities, alcohol-related problems and harms relative to other groups in the New
Zealand population. Specific liberalising policy contexts relevant to young people,
including the lowering of the minimum purchase age, ready to drinks and alcohol outlet
density were also associated with increased quantities consumed or increased harms
among teenagers.
Conclusion: The public health problem of increased alcohol consumption and related
harms among young people in New Zealand can be reduced. It will, however, take
effective restrictive alcohol policy controls to achieve this.
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Keywords
Youth, Alcohol use, Government policy, New Zealand