KEY POINTS:
Young New Zealanders don't drink as often as older people, a new survey has found. But they're more likely to drink much more in a drinking session when they get on the booze.
An analysis of alcohol use, published yesterday by Public Health Intelligence (PBI), the Ministry of Health's epidemiology group, shows marked differences in drinking behaviour between age groups.
Drinkers aged between 18 and 24 years didn't consume alcohol as frequently as people in the 55-65 year age group, the survey disclosed.
However, they were more likely to drink large amounts of alcohol in a typical drinking session than their older counterparts.
"Large amounts" of alcohol are defined as more than six standard drinks for men and four for women per drinking occasion.
These are the upper limits set by the World Health Organisation.
The survey said one in seven New Zealand drinkers consumed large amounts of alcohol weekly. PBI manager Barry Borman said the report showed the majority (81.2 per cent) had drunk alcohol at least once in the previous 12 months.
"But there are marked differences between genders.
"Men were more likely to consume alcohol four or more times a week, drink large amounts of alcohol and to drink enough to feel drunk at least weekly, compared to women."
Dr Borman noted differences between Maori and non-Maori - non-Maori drinking more frequently than Maori. But Maori drank more alcohol during a typical drinking occasion.
Other findings:
* More than half of youngsters between 12-17 had drunk alcohol in the previous 12 months.
* One in eight of these admitted drinking large amounts of alcohol at least once a week.
* About three in five drinkers under 18 had alcohol bought for them and one in seven had tried to buy alcohol.
* About 2.2 per cent of New Zealanders aged 12-65 had received help to cut their alcohol consumption.
* About 1 per cent had wanted such help but hadn't got it.
* About 5 per cent of New Zealanders between 12 and 65 had been physically assaulted because of someone else's misuse of alcohol.
- NZPA
