Drinking: it's time to face up, 'fess up

It's that time of year again. Christmas, New Year's Eve and parties at the bach or the beach - the height of our annual drinking season.

In the past few weeks the Herald has run a series about the impact of alcohol in New Zealand.

We found that after 30 years of decline, our drinking habits are generally improving, although teenage binge-drinking is an increasing problem.

The series also painted a mixed picture of alcohol's effects on society. For many it's an indispensable part of socialising but the links to crime and rates of admission to hospital can make depressing reading.

So as we head into 2004, the Weekend Herald asked some well-known New Zealanders what they thought about drinking.

We wanted to know:

* What's your favourite drink?

* When do you drink and how many times a week do you have a drink? How much would you have at one time?

* How do you cope in the lead-up to the festive season with all the invitations to celebrate with a drink?

* What do you think of the drink-drive laws? Should we be lowering the legal alcohol limit?

* As a person in the public eye, do you think you have to be more responsible about your drinking?

* And, finally, do you have any (printable) good or bad memories about drinking?

PETA MATHIAS

chef and television host

Her favourite drink is red wine.

"There are only two occasions on which I drink - one when I'm in love and the other when I'm not in love. I usually have a glass with lunch and dinner almost every day. At a dinner party I might have three glasses."

She says the lead-up to the festive season is not a problem.

"I stop drinking when I've had enough. It's not self discipline - when I know I've had enough I just stop automatically and don't feel like anymore."

And lowering the legal alcohol limit for driving?

"New Zealanders don't know how to drink. It's not a matter of putting restrictions on people - it's a cultural thing, a matter of educating people not to gorge like morons but to sip and enjoy. Having said that, New Zealanders love getting drunk so there should be zero tolerance of blood alcohol for driving. I'm very tired of drunk young men killing everyone on the roads."

She does not believe she has to be more responsible about her drinking because she has a public profile.

"I'm not paid enough for people to pass judgment on my social behaviour."

A bad drinking memory: "When I was 19 I drank half a bottle of whisky, got in the bath and almost drowned. I was saved by the young man downstairs as his flat was flooded by the overflowing bath. The upside is - I fell in love with him."

And a good one: "When I catered for a duchess in Paris she gave me my payment in two bottles of Chateau Margaux Grand Cru, which is the best wine I have ever drunk in my life."

GREG JOHNSON

musician


Favourite drink is vodka, "but I like 'em all really".

"I drink socially and at shows. I used to drink far too much, now a whole lot less, particularly when I'm performing. It does catch up with you when you get older. There's no free ride and you may well end up a fat bastard with it. If I could go back and halve the drinking I did in my 20s I would.

"Holidays don't make a lot of difference to me really. I used to do them all but these days I pick my parties."

He doesn't believe the drink-drive laws should be changed.

"I think it's about right now, but my philosophy is take a cab and relax. Parking is such a bore anyway."

And no, he doesn't feel the need to be more responsible about his drinking because of his profile.

"Everyone makes their own decisions. If drinking works for you, go right ahead; if it doesn't, don't.

One real tragedy is people who are unaware what bores they become when they drink, they're the ones who need to try something else. Sobriety for example."

DR MIKE MacAVOY

chief executive of ALAC


Favourite drink is a good Central Otago wine. Enjoys a drink two or three times a week, mainly in the evenings.

"I don't find it [the festive season] a problem. I've never really found the need to drink to excess.

"But I'll happily enjoy a glass of wine or beer at functions I attend and switch to something non-alcoholic. I never experience pressure [to drink]."

And on the drink-drive laws: "If the Government reduces the legal alcohol limit to 50 - and at this stage it is still speculation - we will certainly look at the evidence on which they have made their decision, We've supported 80 in the past."

In his position he does feel a need to be responsible about his drinking?

"Anyone in the public eye, whether they like it or not, is a role model. I don't find it remotely difficult though!"

"I'm an absolute foodie, spend hours in the kitchen with my kitchen gadgets and recipe books experimenting. My best memories are matching superb wine with wonderful food."

CHARLOTTE DAWSON

television host


Favourite tipple is a white wine.

Drinks one or two glasses "max" at events which she goes to about once a week.

"I don't want to get drunk and silly. If I get tipsy it will be in the privacy of my own home, maybe once every couple of weeks with friends."

Says she has had "zero" to do in the lead-up to Christmas apart from a recent movie premiere in Sydney.

Believes anyone testing "anything positive" shouldn't be driving. She carries a home breath test kit in her car.

Says everyone should be responsible about their drinking.

"It doesn't matter who you are. No one is elevated above or below or beyond anyone else when it comes to being safe."

A few years ago she became quite depressed after losing her job and her husband.

"I remember there were a couple of days when I sat at home and started drinking at 10.30am and fell asleep by 2pm because I was completely miserable. That was frightening."

DANIEL BRAID

All Black


Favourite drink is a vodka, lime and lemonade.

"I would generally probably drink twice a month in the rugby season, usually on a night after games. Normally I don't drink much because there is usually not much time between games. I drink even less out of season."

Drinks a bit more in the festive season.

"At the moment I am not drinking at all because I have just had a shoulder operation."

Believes the blood alcohol limit should probably stay as it is.

"Lowering it would probably hurt people who drink responsibly now, in that they have a drink or two but are still below the limit and able to drive home."

As a person in the public eye, do you think you have to be more responsible about your drinking?

"Definitely. Because people know who you are, you have to be even more careful."