Drinking alcohol, sadly, is a big part of our Kiwi culture.
At a recent HBDHB Maori Relationship Board (MRB) meeting the DHB population health team presented their alcohol strategy.
A major concern for our community regarding alcohol related harm is alcohol foetal syndrome - harm caused by alcohol to an unborn child.
Many times women are not aware they are pregnant and it may be simply a few glasses of wine at a particular time that impacts on the development of that unborn child. The result can be devastating for our families.
Quite rightly, the presenter of the alcohol strategy asked whether we as the advisory committee believe there is appetite for the community to address alcohol and its related harm.
Members' feedback which in large supported the direction of the strategy, agreed there is community willingness to address the harm of alcohol.
I could not help but think about the difference between the great progress we have made with smokefree versus the little or no progress we have made with alcohol in recent years.
Drinking alcohol, sadly, is a big part of our Kiwi culture. Growing up rites of passage meant skulling the traditional yard glass at 21sts, boozy events during university orientation weeks, binge drinking on weekends and watching our fathers pour out of the club on a Friday night with 6 o'clock closing.
To make a change in communities one needs to create a social movement. Information alone is not enough.
We are swamped with information but to sustain long-term change regarding our drinking culture we need to change public attitude, raise the price of alcohol and, most importantly, demonstrate great leadership nationally and locally.
Communities need to take a stance. My colleague Henare O'Keefe is an example of someone who is an alcohol (free) champion. He is known to publicly oppose alcohol-outlet applications in Flaxmere and leads by example, being alcohol free for years.
What we often do when confronted by the stats regarding alcohol related harm is to deflect: "What about P?"
Having made it to the fourth week of dry July (which includes five weekends) without succumbing to the temptation of booze, I am probably feeling a little righteous.
None of us can bear being around the "reformed" but by admitting to oneself that one has done well to last the distance is also admitting one likes to drink.
I do enjoy the effects of alcohol, particularly at social occasions. Friends tell me they could never do it, or they had too much on to do it. Some friends just plain outright ask me why on earth I would even want to do it.
There are also a few interesting observations during the month - smelling alcohol on someone's breath during the day, watching the effect alcohol has even after just a couple of drinks, people who (boringly) go into great detail to justify why they drink (particularly when they have had a few) or feel they don't need to have a month off. I just know it's a good idea to give my liver a month off drinking alcohol.
The liver is an amazing organ, performing more than 500 functions, and given the chance (time off the booze), cells will regenerate, repair themselves.
Yes, I have noticed a difference in my overall wellbeing. I feel more motivated, more productive.
Dry July originated five years ago and is a fundraiser for adult cancer. I see on the website $242,288 has been raised so far this month. I would like to do dry July every year.
With everything there is a down side. The low with this dry month is that it can be a little boring.
Listening to people after a few drinks repeat the same story during an evening out can be a little dull.
Story telling does not quite have the same effect when on the ginger beer. In fact, when out socially I find myself glancing at the time wondering if it is too early to excuse myself.
I find myself wishing I was tucked up in bed watching the next episode of Longmire on Netflix.
For those of you considering doing something for your energy levels, order in some ginger beer, snuggle in during these cold winter nights and switch on Longmire.
Dry August is looming. Trust me you'll love it.
- Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.