Four in nine New Zealanders report the first time they consumed a large amount of alcohol on one drinking occasion was when they were 15 to 17-years-old. The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) advises that for young people aged 15 to17 years, the safest option is to delay drinking for as long as possible. HPA’s Attitudes and Behaviour towards Alcohol Survey (ABAS) monitors New Zealanders’ behaviour and attitudes towards alcohol, including those related to last month alcohol consumption. This fact sheet reports on alcohol use among those aged 15-17 years.
Methodology
Participants in the 2013 ABAS were asked about the last occasion they had two or more alcoholic drinks in the last three months. There were 180 respondents aged 15 to 17 years in the ABAS. Alcohol type consumed and risky alcohol consumption (defined as five or more alcoholic drinks consumed on one occasion) were examined by gender. Multiple responses were permitted when respondents were asked about the type of alcohol they consumed on their last drinking occasion.
Only those group differences that were statistically significant (p < .05) are reported.
Key Results
• Thirty-six percent of 15 to 17-year-olds had consumed two or more alcoholic drinks in the last week.
• Beer, RTDs and spirits were the three most common types of alcohol consumed on the last drinking occasion. Males were more likely to consume beer, and females more likely to consume RTDs.
• Sixty-five percent of respondents consumed alcohol at a risky level (five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion) on the last drinking occasion.