Reduced hours for liquor retailers would be one step that could be taken locally towards denormalising a pervasive national drinking culture. Photo / NZME.
The social pressure on youth to drink is intense, with the ready availability of alcohol compounding the problem, say two frontline Whangarei social workers.
Te Ora Hou social worker Erana Pou said some Northlanders drank from the age of 14 or younger, with effects ranging from truancy, violence, behavioural problems,
poverty and an increased risk of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in families with intergenerational drinking problems.
"Some young people might even be left homeless because they end up being kicked out by their parents," Mrs Pou said.
She and colleague Maggy Tohu said reduced hours for liquor retailers would be one step that could be taken locally towards denormalising a pervasive national drinking culture.
"To drink is the thing," Ms Tohu said. "Everywhere alcohol is portrayed as a fun lifestyle. You might have one ad saying, 'If you drive drunk you're a bloody idiot', in amongst how many programmes that show wining, dining [and] drinking?"
