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Potentially hazardous drinkingDefinitionThe proportion of the population aged 15 years and over who drink alcohol, who scored eight or more on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), as measured in the New Zealand Health Surveys conducted by the Ministry of Health in 1996/1997, 2002/2003 and 2006/2007. The AUDIT is a 10-item questionnaire covering alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems and abnormal drinking behaviour. RelevancePotentially hazardous drinking, defined by an AUDIT score of eight or more, is an established pattern of alcohol consumption that carries a high risk of future damage to physical or mental health, but may not yet have resulted in significant adverse effects.41 Alcohol also contributes to death and injury due to traffic accidents, drowning, suicide, assaults and domestic violence.42 Current level and trendsIn 2006/2007, 22.9 per cent of adult drinkers had a potentially hazardous drinking pattern, as indicated by an AUDIT score of eight or more. This was similar to the proportions recorded in the 1996/1997 and 2002/2003 surveys (22.3 per cent and 22.5 per cent, respectively).43 Figure H6.1 Potentially hazardous drinking among drinkers, by age, 1996/1997, 2002/2003 and 2006/2007
Source: Ministry of Health, Public Health Intelligence Age and sex differencesFor both males and females, the proportion of adult drinkers with a potentially hazardous drinking pattern is highest among those aged 15–24 years and declines at older ages. In 2006/2007, male drinkers (29.2 per cent) were significantly more likely than female drinkers (13.0 per cent) to have a potentially hazardous drinking pattern. This was the case for all age groups and in each survey year. Table H6.1 Proportion (%) of adult drinkers with a potentially hazardous drinking pattern,
Source: Ministry of Health, Public Health Intelligence Ethnic differencesMāori and Pacific drinkers are significantly more likely than drinkers in the total population to have a potentially hazardous drinking pattern. Asian drinkers are significantly less likely to have such a pattern. These ethnic differences are evident for both sexes. Table H6.2 Age-standardised potentially hazardous drinking prevalence rate (%), for adult drinkers,
Source: Ministry of Health, Public Health Intelligence Socio-economic differencesThe proportion of adult drinkers with a potentially hazardous drinking pattern in 2006/2007 was significantly higher (at 30.8 per cent) in the most deprived small areas (NZDep2006 quintile 5) than in all other areas (quintiles 1–4), where proportions ranged from 19–24 per cent. International comparisonBecause of the paucity of international data using the AUDIT method of identifying potentially hazardous drinking, this section uses information on annual per capita alcohol consumption compiled by the OECD. New Zealand had the 13th lowest level of alcohol consumption out of 30 OECD countries in 2003–2007, with a per capita consumption of 9.2 litres in 2007. New Zealand’s alcohol consumption in 2007 was higher than that of the United States (8.6 litres in 2006) and Canada (8.1 litres in 2006), but lower than that of Australia (9.9 litres in 2006) and the United Kingdom (11.2 litres in 2007). The OECD median in 2003–2007 was 9.9 litres of alcohol per capita.44 » View technical details about the potentially hazardous drinking indicator |
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