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Services offering on-demand delivery of unhealthy commodities, such as fast food, alcohol and smoking/vaping products have proliferated in recent years. It is well known that the built environment can be health promoting or harmful to health, but there has been less consideration of the digital environment. Increased availability and accessibility of these commodities may be associated with increased consumption, with harmful public health implications. Policy regulating the supply of these commodities was developed before the introduction of on-demand services and has not kept pace with the digital environment. This paper reports on semi-structured interviews with health policy experts on the health harms of the uptake in on-demand delivery of food, alcohol and smoking/vaping products, along with their views on policies that might mitigate these harms. We interviewed 14 policy experts from central and local government agencies and ministries, health authorities, non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and university research positions in Aotearoa New Zealand using a purposive sampling strategy. Participants concerns over the health harms from on-demand services encompassed three broad themes—the expansion of access to and availability of unhealthy commodities, the inadequacy of existing restrictions and regulations in the digital environment and the expansion of personalized marketing and promotional platforms for unhealthy commodities. Health policy experts' proposals to mitigate harms included: limiting access and availability, updating regulations and boosting enforcement and limiting promotion and marketing. Collectively, these findings and proposals can inform future research and public health policy decisions to address harms posed by on-demand delivery of unhealthy commodities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In 2015/2016 controversy followed the publication of a report on an anthropological study of Australian and New Zealand night‐time economies funded by a major alcohol producer. This paper explores the background, moments of public controversy and political uses of the report. Methods: Informed by the sociology of scientific controversies, we review the available relevant work of the author of the report, associated material such as press releases, newspaper articles (n = 18) and industry submissions to government (n = 12). Attention was paid to the ways in which claims were made about the relationship between alcohol and violence, and the ways in which credibility and legitimacy were constructed. Results: The author of the report has longstanding associations with alcohol industry organisations. Claims made regarding alcohol and violence have remained highly consistent over time, and appear oblivious to developments in the evidence. In the media, the story was largely framed as a contest of credibility between compromised parties. The report continues to be used in alcohol industry submissions to government. Discussion and Conclusions: This analysis suggests that this is a 'counterfeit scientific controversy'; in our assessment, the report has had value not as a contribution to the scientific literature, but as a resource in the claims‐making practices of the alcohol industry. Studies of the ways in which industry actors foster science‐related content conducted at significant social and conceptual distance from the core of the relevant research community will enhance understandings of the ways in which industry actors engage with science and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Young adult’s drinking is about pleasure, a communal practice of socialising together in a friendship group. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the evolving support practices of drinking groups for better targeting of health communications messages.Design/methodology/approach This qualitative descriptive study examined the narratives of 28 young people’s (age 18-24 years old) experience of a “night out” framed as the Alcohol Consumption Journey.Findings The Alcohol Consumption Journey ritual consisted of three phases: preloading, going out and recovery. The participants described multiple forms of support practices located at each phase of the Alcohol Consumption Journey for maximising pleasure, minimising risk, encouraging supportive behaviours, enhancing group cohesion and protecting the drinkers from alcohol-related harm. Hence, support practices played a critical part in constituting and consolidating the drinking group. While the support practices appeared to be structured into the Alcohol Consumption Journey, they were activated differently for young men and young women. Support practices were an important driver in perpetuating the Alcohol Consumption Journey.Originality/value The paper extends Vander Ven’s concept of “drunk support” to better understand young adults’ evolving support practices in the ritualised Alcohol Consumption Journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This paper aimed to assess purchasing and drinking behaviour during the first COVID‐19 pandemic restrictions in New Zealand. Method: A convenience sample was collected via Facebook from 2173 New Zealanders 18+ years during pandemic restrictions April/May 2020. Measures included: the quantity typically consumed during a drinking occasion and heavier drinking (6+ drinks on a typical occasion) in the past week; place of purchase including online alcohol delivery. Descriptive statistics were generated, logistic and linear regression models predicted heavier drinking and typical occasion quantity, respectively. Weighting was not applied. Results: During pandemic restrictions, around 75% of respondents purchased from supermarkets, 40% used online alcohol delivery services (18% for the first time during COVID‐19). Purchasing online alcohol delivery during pandemic restrictions was associated with heavier drinking (75% higher odds) in the past week, while purchasing from supermarkets was not. About 58% of online purchasers under 25 reported no age checks. Sixteen percent of those purchasing online repeat ordered online to keep drinking after running out. Of respondents who had tried to buy alcohol and food online, 56% reported that alcohol was easier to get delivered than fresh food. Advertising for online alcohol delivery was seen by around 75% of the sample. Half of the sample reported drinking more alcohol during the restrictions. Discussion and Conclusions: Online alcohol delivery during the COVID‐19 pandemic restrictions was associated with heavier drinking in the past week. The rapid expansion of online alcohol delivery coupled with a lack of regulatory control requires public health policy attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Young people drinking to extreme drunkenness is a source of concern for policy makers and health promoters. There are a variety of community groups who appear to respond to the alcohol-related problems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the working practices and relationships among local community groups as part of the pre-intervention context-assessment process.Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the narratives of nine community workers and ten venue managers the authors examine the community level approach to inform the choice of interventions to reduce risky drinking practices and community wide alcohol-related harm.Findings There was considerable agreement across the community workers and venue managers about the nature of risk for young people in the night time economy (NTE). Two central themes of "perceived risk" and "management of risk" emerged from the data. Further, the community workers and venue managers identified different high-risk locations and strategies to improve their ability meet the needs of young people experiencing risk in the NTE. The local authorities, community organisations and night time operators adopted a broad proactive and connected approach to develop a coherent strategy to achieve new measures of safety in the NTE.Originality/value Applying the social ecological model to provide a framework for the understanding of the social, environmental and political factors that influence alcohol use in young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The risk associated with heavy episodic drinking in young people has caused concern among public health professionals. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the gender differences in the perception of risk in alcohol consumption behaviour for better targeting of messages.Design/methodology/approach This qualitative descriptive study examines the narratives of 28 young people’s experience of a “night out” framed as the Alcohol Consumption Journey to examine the ways young men and women experience context-specific risks for alcohol use.Findings The young people perceived participation in the Alcohol Consumption Journey involved risk to their personal safety. Both young men and young women described their alcohol consumption as controlled and perceived the risks as external inevitabilities linked to the public drinking establishments. However, they displayed noticeable gender-based differences in the perception and management of risk in diverse contexts of the Alcohol Consumption Journey. Young women drink in close friendship groups and have a collective view of risk and constructed group strategies to minimise it. Comparatively, the young men’s drinking group is more changeable and adopted a more individualistic approach to managing risk. Both groups exhibited prosocial tendencies to protect themselves and their friends when socialising together.Originality/value The concept of “edgework” is effective in providing an explanatory framework for understanding young people’s ritualised Alcohol Consumption Journey and to illustrate the context-specific risks associated with alcohol use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the politics and policy implications of alcohol sponsorship of sport in New Zealand. Specifically, it draws on the recommendations of the 2010 New Zealand Law Commission report titled Alcohol in our lives: Curbing the harm, which called for the gradual elimination of all alcohol sponsorship from New Zealand sport. Using a multi-method approach, the paper examines the contested terrain of the alcohol–sport relationship, that is, the nature of the relationship and its potential impact on the nation’s binge drinking culture, how it is regulated by both states and sport organisations within the international community and, finally, the perspectives of key stakeholders in the debate. The views of key stakeholders offer insights into the nature of competing interests at play within the alcohol–sport sponsorship relationship. Overall, the findings highlight the challenges of social change and the need for more research and a community-based, multidimensional approach that is reinforced through regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the promotion and consumption of alcohol at the 2012 New Zealand Rugby Sevens Tournament. The paper uses a quantitative survey to gain insight into how attendees experienced the event in relation to alcohol promotions and alcohol consumption. One hundred and six participants completed the survey, the results of which highlight respondents’ opinions of: (a) the appearance and role of alcohol promotions at the event; (b) the link between event atmosphere and alcohol consumption; and, (c) messages about moderating alcohol consumption during the event. The discussion draws attention to how live spectators of one particular alcohol-sponsored sports event perceived the role of alcohol as part of the entertainment package and the atmosphere of the event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to report nurses' and midwives' health, vitality and well-being in relation to adherence to current health behaviour recommendations. Healthy lifestyle factors constitute a core set of parameters required if an individual wants to live a healthy life, age successfully and avoid morbidity and a premature mortality. The investigation is an observation study of Australian and New Zealand nurses and midwives. Data were generated from the e-Cohort survey and the healthy lifestyle (HL;N = 338) group categorised as those adhering to physical activity and dietary guidelines, not smoking, consuming moderate alcohol and getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. All others were categorised as non-healthy lifestyle (NHL;N = 338) irrelevant of the number of factors present. It was found that HL group reported less work place activity but more leisure-time activity and had a lower BMI than NHL. In addition, the HL group was most likely to report improved sleep quality and least likely to report workplace and emotional barriers in day-to-day life. In contrast, those in the NHL group were less likely to report their health as excellent and were more likely to report a history of anxiety, depression and limitations in daily activities. It was concluded that collectively, the professions need to take action and members need to change lifestyle choices around physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol and sleep. This study has important implications for workforce planners and administrators concerned about the well-being of individual members of the professions and the nursing and midwifery workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In many countries, the rate of binge drinking and alcohol-related harms among students living in residential colleges exceeds that observed among young people in the general population. Peer influence plays a key role in driving alcohol and other drug (AOD) use in colleges. This highlights the potential role of peer influence AOD-interventions in college student-networks. This protocol paper outlines the design of a two-stage social network intervention (SNI) for reducing AOD-use in four Australian first-year residential college networks. In Stage 1, a peer-led workshop will provide education about AOD-use and harm-minimisation strategies to four first-year cohorts in the first week of semester one (N ~ 500). In Stage 2, a targeted SNI will be delivered to the largest co-educational, first-year cohort (N ~ 160), wherein heavy drinking 'Strategic Players' (influential students) will be identified and offered a brief, telephone-delivered motivational interviewing intervention for AOD-use (QuikFix). Participants will complete online surveys at baseline and 12-, 26-, and 52-weeks follow-up. Recruitment occurred in February 2021 and is now closed. Results are expected to be submitted for publication in late 2022. This protocol paper outlines the design of a feasibility trial exploring the impact of applied SNIs for reducing AOD-use and related consequences in residential college student networks. If effective, the two-stage SNI proposed could (i) reduce AOD-use and risk of harm across first-year student networks and (ii) provide an effective brief intervention (QuikFix) to high-risk drinkers who have greatest potential to spread the intervention effects to other risky drinkers in their network. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000494831). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with a mental health condition are more likely to engage in risk behaviours compared to people without. Delivery of preventive care to improve such behaviours is recommended for community mental health services, but inadequately implemented. This study assessed the effectiveness of an implementation support package on clinicians' delivery of preventive care (assessment, advice, referral) for four risk behaviours (tobacco smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, inadequate fruit and vegetable intake) compared to no implementation support. The participatory approach to developing the support package, and fidelity of the implementation strategies, are also described. Methods: A non-randomised controlled trial was undertaken in 2019–2020 with two community mental health services (control and target) in one health district in New South Wales, Australia. A 4-month support package consisting of multiple implementation strategies was delivered to one site following a two-phase participatory design process. Five implementation strategies were proposed to service managers by researchers. After consultation with managers and clinicians, the final implementation support package included four strategies: training and education materials, enabling resources and prompts, client activation material, and audit and feedback. Client-reported receipt of the three elements of preventive care for the four risk behaviours was collected from a cross-sectional sample of clients who had recently attended the service at baseline (6 months) and follow-up (5 months). Logistic regression models examined change in receipt of preventive care to assess effectiveness. Results: A total of 860 client surveys were completed (control baseline n = 168; target baseline n = 261; control follow-up n = 164; and target follow-up n = 267). Analyses revealed no significant differential changes in preventive care receipt between the target and control sites from baseline to follow-up, including across the four primary outcomes: assessed for all behaviours (OR = 1.19; 95% CI 0.55, 2.57; p = 0.65); advised for all relevant risk behaviours (OR = 1.18; 95% CI 0.39, 3.61; p = 0.77); referred for any relevant risk behaviour (OR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.40, 1.63; p = 0.55); and complete care (OR = 3.11; 95% CI 0.62, 15.63; p = 0.17). Fidelity of the implementation strategies was limited as one of the four strategies (audit and feedback) was not delivered, components of two strategies (enabling resources and prompts, and client activation material) were not delivered as intended, and one strategy (education and training) was delivered as intended although some components were offered late in the implementation period. Conclusions: The implementation support package was ineffective at increasing preventive care delivery. Further investigation is required to determine optimal participatory design methods to develop effective implementation strategies, including those that support delivery of care in community mental health settings within the ongoing context of uncertain environmental challenges. Trial registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619001379101. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Abstinence and responsible drinking are not typically associated with youth drinking culture. Amongst Pacific youth in New Zealand there are high numbers, compared to the general New Zealand population, who choose not to consume alcohol. The Pacific youth population is made up of several ethnic groups; their ethno-cultural values are largely Polynesian and heavily influenced by the socio-economic realities of living in New Zealand. This paper explores factors that support abstinence or responsible drinking amongst Pacific youth living in Auckland. Methods: A qualitative study comprised of a series of ethnically-, age-, and gender-matched semi-structured focus group discussions with 69 Pacific youth, aged 15-25 years from a university and selected high-schools. Participants were purposively sampled. Results: Key cultural factors that contributed to whether Pacific youth participants were abstinent or responsible drinkers were: significant experiences within Pacific family environments (e.g. young person directly links their decision about alcohol consumption to a positive or negative role model); awareness of the belief that their actions as children of Pacific parents affects the reputation and standing of their Pacific family and community (e.g. church); awareness of traditional Pacific values of respect, reciprocity and cultural taboos (e.g. male--female socialising); commitment to no-alcohol teachings of church or religious faith; having peer support and experiences that force them to consider negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption; and personal awareness that being part of an (excessive) drinking culture may seriously affect health or impede career aspirations. Conclusions: The narratives offered by Pacific young people highlighted three key communities of influence: family (immediate and extended, but especially siblings), peers and church. Young people negotiated through these communities of influence their decisions whether to drink alcohol, drink excessively or not at all. For each young person the way in which those three communities came together to support their decisions depended on the specificities of their lived contexts. Pacific young people live lives that share some things in common with other New Zealand youth and others which are more specific to a Pacific ethnic group, especially in relation to the traditional beliefs of their Pacific parents and community. In the development of alcohol harm reduction strategies seeking active Pacific young person and family compliance, it is these "other ethnic things" that requires careful and more qualitative consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims. Significant changes have occurred in the alcohol environment in New Zealand recently and there has been debate about how trends in alcohol consumption may currently look. This paper reports trends in drinking over three general population samples in New Zealand. Design and Methods. Three nationally representative comparable surveys were analysed for trends in: prevalence of drinking, typical occasion quantity, annual frequency and heavier drinking (5+ drinks). Analyses assessed the mean difference of the measures at each year point. Adjustments for multiple comparisons were made. Analysis was undertaken for age and separately for gender. Results. Increases in quantities consumed on a typical occasion occurred for the majority of age groups between 1995 and 2000. Women were as likely as men to increase the quantities they consumed. Observing differences between age groups found that young people tended to show the greatest increases in quantity (including heavier drinking) and frequency of consumption between 1995 and 2000. Drinking levels remained relatively stable between 2000 and 2004 with the exception of increases in abstention for some of the younger groups and increases in quantities consumed and heavier drinking among some of the older men. Discussion and Conclusions. Increases in quantities consumed per occasion have occurred almost across the board between 1995 and 2000 in New Zealand. Women were as likely as men to increase the quantities they consumed. Young people tended to show the greatest increases in quantity (including heavier drinking) and frequency of consumption between 1995 and 2000. Drinking remained relatively stable between 2000 and 2004.[Huckle T, You RQ, Casswell S. Increases in quantities consumed in drinking occasions in New Zealand 1995-2004. Drug Alcohol Rev 2011;30:366-371] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims. Onset and lifetime use of drugs have not previously been reported for all adult ages in New Zealand. This paper reports such results and, for people born in New Zealand, compares age of onset across ethnic groups. Design and Methods. A nationally representative cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2003–2004, with oversampling of Māori and Pacific people. Participants were aged 16 years or more, living in permanent private dwellings. In the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0), participants were asked if they had ever used drugs (alcohol, tobacco and five groups of other drugs) and the age of first use (except for tobacco). Estimates are weighted. Results. The response rate of 73.3% yielded 12 992 interviews. The percentage of participants who had ever used drugs was: 94.6% for alcohol, 50.8% for tobacco and 42.6% for any extramedical drug, including 41.6% for cannabis, 4.2% for cocaine and 2.9% for opioids. Use was much more common in recent cohorts for extramedical drugs. The median age of onset in each age cohort was always lowest for alcohol, then cannabis, then opioids, then cocaine. Among those born in New Zealand, Māori were more at risk of use than ‘Others’ with the lowest risk for Pacific people. Discussion and Conclusions. Interventions to prevent or to delay the onset of drug use need to occur before and during adolescence. The major cohort differences and the widespread experience of cannabis use help to explain the diversity of opinion in New Zealand about how to deal with this drug.[Wells JE, McGee MA, Baxter J, Agnew F, Kokaua J for the New Zealand Mental Health Survey Research Team. Onset and lifetime use of drugs in New Zealand: Results from Te Rau Hinengaro: The New Zealand Mental Health Survey 2003–2004. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009;28:166–174] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University students drink more heavily than their non-student peers in New Zealand. The promotion of alcohol via advertising is a known contributor to heavy drinking. The aim of this paper was to determine the nature and extent of alcohol-related advertising and related policies at New Zealand universities. We sought to obtain all issues for 2005, of student newspapers at five New Zealand universities that had participated in an ongoing research project examining alcohol-related harm. The number of alcohol-related advertisements was determined and counts were weighted by the proportion of the page they took up. We surveyed senior university administrators to determine whether policies existed to regulate alcohol advertising on campus. The number of alcohol-related advertisements in student publications ranged from 1 to 129 across the academic year (median: 74 advertisements, 34 full-page equivalents). At three universities, most advertisements promoted bars, pubs and restaurants, while at the other two universities, most alcohol-related advertising was for events sponsored by a brewery, alcohol company or local pub. At one university with almost no advertising, a brewery sponsorship agreement with the student association forbade other parties from advertising alcohol and related events. Alcohol-related advertising is pervasive in the New Zealand university student press. Student associations should consider the ethics of alcohol industry sponsorship in light of the high prevalence of heavy drinking in this population group. [Cousins K, Kypri K. Alcohol advertising in the New Zealand university student press. Drug Alcohol Rev 2008;27:566-569] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the history and activities of the RANZCP Section of Addiction Psychiatry, as well as its current challenges and opportunities. Conclusions: From initial exclusion to an active and growing membership, the Section of Addiction Psychiatry continues to ensure that problematic substance use and gambling remain core issues within Australasian psychiatry. In addition to commenting and contributing to ongoing clinical and policy initiatives, the Section has recently introduced an advanced training curriculum and maintains a strong partnership with the relatively new Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine. Its active input into education, training, media and policy development within the College guarantees that psychiatry is represented within the addiction field, and that tomorrow's psychiatrists are competent to assess and treat comorbid addiction issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers linkages between contemporary marketing theory and practice, and emerging conceptualizations of identity, to discuss implications for public health concerns over alcohol use among young people. Particular attention is paid to the theorizing of consumption as a component of youth identities and the ways in which developments of marketing praxis orients to such schemata. The authors’ analyses of exemplars of marketing materials in use in Aotearoa New Zealand, drawn from their research archive, emphasize the sophistication and power of such forms of marketing. They argue that public health policy and practice must respond to the interweaving of marketing and the self-making practices of young people to counter this complex threat to the health and well-being of young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the evaluation of a regional community action intervention to reduce access to alcohol from off-license premises by minors. The intervention focussed on: (1) monitoring alcohol sales made without age identification from off-licenses; (2) utilizing data on alcohol sales for media advocacy and direct contact with alcohol retailers and (3) working with key enforcement staff to encourage increased monitoring and enforcement of minimum purchase age legislation for off-licenses. Evaluation of this intervention used a case study design. Purchase survey data was obtained before and after intervention. Media items were monitored and included pre- and post-intervention phases. Interviews, with key enforcement staff and document review were undertaken post-intervention. Purchase survey data showed a significant decrease (p <0.05) in sales of alcohol made to young people without age identification pre- and post-intervention. Pre-intervention: 60% of visits resulted in a sale made without age identification; post-intervention this proportion was 46%. Principal component analysis of newsprint media indicated increased coverage of items advocating improved age checking for off-licenses following intervention. Interview data and document review indicate that some enforcement staff in the region implemented increased enforcement strategies including, controlled purchase operations and increased visits to off-licenses due to the intervention. Evaluation findings indicate that collaborative and intersectoral community action interventions implemented regionally can be effective in redirecting resources to achieve preventive outcomes at a population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to compare women's and men's alcohol consumption patterns and alcohol-related problems in New Zealand in 1995 and 2000, by age groups. Secondary aims are to consider the findings in relation to debates on the gender convergence hypothesis regarding the link between gender convergence in alcohol consumption and possible explanations, such as social role convergence and policy changes. Design Data were collected in two general population surveys conducted in New Zealand in 1995 (n=4232) and 2000 (n:5113) using the same questionnaire. Measurements Quantity consumed on a typical drinking occasion, volume of absolute alcohol consumed per annum, proportions drinking 20+ liters per annum, proportion of total consumption consumed in heavy drinking occasions, frequency of consumption, proportion who drink enough to feel drunk at least once a week, proportions reporting three or more alcohol-related problems and attitudes to intoxication. Findings Evidence for gender convergence was found across a range of measures of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. In the 20?39-year age group quantities of alcohol consumed on a typical occasion and the related measures of volume, drunkenness and problems all showed convergence. In the groups over 40 years of age convergence occurred in relation to frequency of drinking. In the groups below 20 years, which consumed relatively high quantifies and where the differences in consumption between gender groups were relatively small, further convergence did not occur. Conclusions Gender convergence took place in New Zealand from 1995 to 2000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once hailed as the ‘social laboratory of the world’, voices from New Zealand have been strangely muted in many of the debates about how best to tackle drug-related harm. In relation to alcohol, however, New Zealand offers one of the most interesting case studies of how government responses to drug-related problems are framed. Since the late 1970s, New Zealand has had a stand-alone agency, the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, with a national mandate to minimise alcohol-related harm. Set up under its own Act of Parliament, and at an arms-length distance from government, this body was also given a dedicated source of funding from a special levy on beverage alcohol products. Despite this seemingly unique constellation of features (a national organisation, established by statute, with an alcohol-only focus and a mandate to lead alcohol-related harm minimisation, directly funded by a ‘tied-tax’ on alcohol), the Alcohol Advisory Council model has received little attention in the published literature. This paper seeks to introduce the Alcohol Advisory Council model to a wider audience. After backgrounding the establishment of the Council in the late 1970s, and its reconfiguration following a Ministerial review in the early 1990s, the paper assesses recent changes to the Council''s empowering legislation. A number of criticisms that have been made against the Council are also canvassed, along with a brief discussion of the Council''s future prospects. The paper concludes that, while questions remain about the extent to which an entity like the Alcohol Advisory Council can remain truly independent from government, it is a model that usefully brings together a critical mass of people working to minimise the harm associated with alcohol, and sharpens the focus of debates in both the public and political arenas about alcohol''s effects in the community. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Generally, the relationship between culture and substance use has been explored in two ways. Firstly, high rates of substance use and related problems amongst indigenous and migrant populations generated interest in genetics and cultural susceptibility. Acculturation-strain type theories suggested the stress of culture-change increased the risk of substance use and related harm. Secondly, there has been an increasing emphasis on taking account of the diversity of social, psychological, and cultural factors in the assessment and treatment of alcohol- and drug-use-associated problems. Utilization of ethnocultural factors as a means to promote recovery from alcohol- and drug-use-associated problems is a feature of culturally congruent interventions. Mäori are the indigenous people of New Zealand, and this paper outlines the background to the increasing inclusion of customary Mäori values, beliefs, and practices in interventions in the development of culturally congruent programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is 100% caused by alcohol. The lifelong disability caused by prenatal alcohol exposure cannot be reversed. Lack of reliable national prevalence estimates of FASD is common internationally and true of Aotearoa, New Zealand. This study modelled the national prevalence of FASD and differences by ethnicity. Methods: FASD prevalence was estimated from self‐reported data on any alcohol use during pregnancy for 2012/2013 and 2018/2019, combined with risk estimates for FASD from a meta‐analysis of case‐ascertainment or clinic‐based studies in seven other countries. A sensitivity analysis using four more recent active case ascertainment studies was performed to account for the possibility of underestimation. Results: We estimated FASD prevalence in the general population to be 1.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0%; 2.7%) in the 2012/2013 year. For Māori, the prevalence was significantly higher than for Pasifika and Asian populations. In the 2018/2019 year, FASD prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI 0.9%; 1.9%). For Māori, the prevalence was significantly higher than for Pasifika and Asian populations. The sensitivity analysis estimated the prevalence of FASD in the 2018/2019 year to range between 1.1% and 3.9% and for Māori, from 1.7% to 6.3%. Discussion and Conclusions: This study used methodology from comparative risk assessments, using the best available national data. These findings are probably underestimates but indicate a disproportionate experience of FASD by Māori compared with some ethnicities. The findings support the need for policy and prevention initiatives to support alcohol‐free pregnancies to reduce lifelong disability caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue addressed: The objective was to identify whether National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) have policy documentation on healthy behaviours (smokefree, sun‐protection, healthy food/beverages and alcohol) and, for organisations with such documentation, whether this was in‐line with current scientific evidence of past best practice in cancer prevention. Methods: This cross‐sectional policy analysis study was performed September to December 2018 in Aotearoa/New Zealand. A content analysis was undertaken using NSO policy documents matched against a framework of key indicators for best practice within health behaviours of interest. Data analysis of the policy process was undertaken through key informant telephone interviews with NSO staff using semi‐structured qualitative interviews. Results: Of 96 NSOs, nearly half (49%) mentioned smokefree at least once in one of their policy documents, and 47% had an alcohol policy, although in both instances the policies lacked comprehensiveness. Two NSOs had a reasonably comprehensive sun protection policy. Seventeen had at least one specific nutrition policy/guideline. The contents of the latter were primarily related to short‐term athletic performance rather than non‐communicable disease prevention, specifically promoting hydration during sports participation, and food and nutrition to support sporting performance. Two NSOs had policies relating to the promotion of healthy food/nutrition more widely. For some NSOs, the lack of health‐related policies was not a conscious choice but just not considered previously. Other NSOs reported they lacked resources or had other priorities. Conclusions: Although this study clearly demonstrates that many NSOs lack adequate health‐related policies, this is not necessarily a conscious choice, but the result of a lack of resources, other priorities, or just that they had not considered developing policies in these areas. A number expressed support for these types of policies although it was apparent that some, particularly smaller NSOs, would require assistance in policy template development. It seems probable that the development of health‐related policies will only occur if partner agencies become involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol misuse is commonly associated with problem gambling and suicide attempts. This study included seventy patients admitted to an Auckland (New Zealand) hospital immediately following a suicide attempt. The first paper in the study identified 12 (17.1%) patients from the sample as being positive on the Eight Gambling Screen. Of these individuals, 75% were also positive on the CAGE alcohol screen. Problem gambling patients who had attempted suicide were also more likely to he Maori (indigenous New Zealanders). The severity of the suicide attempt between patients screened as problem gamblers and those who were not did not differ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This narrative review summarises the latest evidence on the causes and consequences of substance use in adolescence and describes long-term trends in adolescent alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use in Aotearoa. Adolescence is a time of rapid brain development when young people are uniquely vulnerable to the risks of substance use. It is a major cause of health and social harm in this age group and can affect adult outcomes and the health of the next generation. Therefore, substance use trends are central to understanding the current and future state of child and youth wellbeing in Aotearoa. Adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis peaked in the late 1990s/early 2000s, then declined rapidly, and prevalence is now much lower than 20 years ago. However, levels of adolescent binge drinking remain high by international standards and disparities in tobacco and cannabis use by ethnicity and socioeconomic status are wide. Evidence suggests we may again be at a turning point, with-long term declines stalling or reversing in the past 2–5 years, and vaping emerging as a new risk. Greater investment in primary prevention is indicated, including restrictions on alcohol marketing and availability, and alleviation of poverty, racism and marginalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the centrality of consent to the definitions of sexual offences under the Crimes Act 1961, it remains a relatively under-theorised concept. In this paper I offer a critique of the current position through a feminist lens, examining its implications for women's sexuality. Case law concerning intoxicated consent is analysed as a specific example of the limitations that the current conceptualisation of sexual consent places on women's sexual autonomy. Specifically, I critique the treatment of the "voluntariness" of intoxication as relevant to the question of consent, and the requirement of extreme intoxication for consent to be called into question. In response to these issues, I argue that a re-conceptualisation of consent as a communicative, affirmative standard is necessary to better enable women to exercise their sexual autonomy. Such a standard may challenge the rape myths subscribed to by many judges and jurors, and may promote more empowered conceptions of female sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: In many countries, including New Zealand, alcohol availability and promotion have increased markedly in the last three decades as a result of liberalised central and/or state government alcohol policies. Accordingly, communities are increasingly relying on local government to manage alcohol-related problems. New Zealand''s states the purpose of local government as facilitating public decision-making and promoting community well-being. We sought to describe public sentiment towards alcohol and local government alcohol policies. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2007 with a sample of 2337 residents aged 18 years and over in a diverse set of New Zealand communities. Data were collected via a self-administered pen-and-paper questionnaire. Results: There were responses from 1372 individuals (response: 59%). Problem drinking amongst youth (<25 years of age) was considered the leading problem by the majority of respondents in six of seven areas. Alcohol was considered to play a major role in incidents of violence, vandalism, dangerous driving and traffic crashes. Fifty-eight percent of respondents agreed that “it is up to local government to make sure alcohol does not become a problem in the community”. There was strong support for local governments to restrict the hours of operation of on-licenced premises, to use liquor bans to control drinking in public places, and for local governments and police to be stricter in their enforcement of drinking laws. Conclusion: There is strong support for local government alcohol policies that restrict the availability and promotion of alcohol. The study findings are important in light of the stated purpose of local government in New Zealand and the recently completed “once in a generation” review of alcohol laws and policies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction and Aims. Premenopausal women's opinions on the safety of alcohol consumption during pregnancy are not well documented. This study aims to assess the opinions of New Zealand women on the safety of alcohol consumption in pregnancy and the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with these opinions. Design and Methods. A nationwide, cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2005 on a random sample of 1109 non-pregnant women aged 16–40 years. Data were collected via an interviewer-administered questionnaire using a web-assisted telephone interviewing system. Results. Overall, 44% (95% confidence interval 41–47) of women surveyed were of the opinion that no alcohol is safe in pregnancy. Those who stated that no alcohol is safe in pregnancy were more likely to be of Pacific Island ethnicity (P < 0.05) and abstainers (P < 0.001). Women who drank more than two standard drinks of alcohol on a typical occasion and/or who binged were more likely to be of the opinion that ‘more than one standard drink’ of alcohol is safe on a typical drinking day during pregnancy (P < 0.001). Discussion and Conclusions. The association of drinking style with opinions about the safety of alcohol consumption in pregnancy accentuates the need for public health education to reduce risky drinking behaviours in this population. Such efforts may also address the risk associated with many women unintentionally drinking in early pregnancy, especially if the pregnancy is unplanned.[Parackal SM, Parackal MK, Harraway JA, Ferguson EL. Opinions of non-pregnant New Zealand women aged 16–40 years about the safety of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol consumption among young people in New Zealand is on the rise. Given the broad array of acute and chronic harms that arise from this trend, it is a major cause for alarm and it is imperative that we improve our knowledge of key drivers of youth drinking. Changes wrought by the neoliberal political climate of deregulation that characterised the last two decades in many countries including Aotearoa (Aotearoa is a Maori name for New Zealand) New Zealand have transformed the availability of alcohol to young people. Commercial development of youth alcohol markets has seen the emergence of new environments, cultures and practices around drinking and intoxication but the ways in which these changes are interpreted and taken up are not well understood. This paper reports findings from a qualitative research project investigating the meaning-making practices of young people in New Zealand in response to alcohol marketing. Research data included group interviews with a range of Maori and Pakeha young people at three time periods. Thematic analyses of the youth data on usages of marketing materials indicate naturalisation of tropes of alcohol intoxication. We show how marketing is used and enjoyed in youth discourses creating and maintaining what we refer to as intoxigenic social environments. The implications are considered in light of the growing exposure of young people to alcohol marketing in a discussion of strategies to manage and mitigate its impacts on behaviour and consumption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many studies show that driving at night is more risky in terms of crash involvements per distance travelled than driving during the day. The reasons for this include the more prevalent use of alcohol by drivers at night, the effects of fatigue on the driving task and the risk associated with reduced visibility. Although the consumption of alcohol prior to driving occurs most commonly at night, drink-driving is not inherently a night time risk factor. This study decomposes the New Zealand risk of driving at night into risk associated with alcohol and risk associated with inherently night time factors. The overall risk associated with alcohol use by drivers was shown to decrease with increasing age for the most risky situation analysed (male drivers on weekend nights). Given the levels of drinking and driving on weekend nights, the overall effect of alcohol was shown to contribute almost half of weekend night time risk for drivers aged under 40 on lower volume roads, but to contribute little to overall risk on higher-volume roads, consistent with other research showing that higher-volume roads are not favoured by drinking drivers. Risk at night relative to risk during the day (excluding risk associated with drinking and driving) was shown to decrease with age. Roads with illumination at night are less risky at night relative to during the day than roads without illumination. The risks estimated in this paper reflect the behaviour of the road users studied and their prevalence on the roads under the conditions analysed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to describe patterns of use and attitudes towards a broad variety of substances for improving academic performance at a New Zealand university. 685 students (from 1800 invited) completed an online questionnaire (38% response rate). They were asked about their lifetime and current substance use for improving academic performance, as well as their reasons for use, attitudes and perceptions of: caffeine, alcohol, dietary supplements, prescription stimulants, other prescription substances, and illicit substances. 80% (95% CI: 76.3, 82.5) reported ever using any substance to help improve academic performance, mainly to stay awake and improve concentration. Caffeine (70%, 95% CI: 66.3, 73.3) and dietary supplements (32%, 95% CI: 28.3, 35.5) were most commonly used. 4% (95% CI: 2.7, 5.9) reported use of prescription stimulants, mostly methylphenidate, and another 4% (95% CI: 2.7, 5.9) reported using illicit substances for improving academic performance. Users of prescription stimulants were more likely than non-users to believe that they were safe, morally acceptable, and that they should be available legally for enhancing academic performance. We close with discussions on broadening the focus of substances for improving academic performance in public health debates. Further qualitative research from small countries is also needed to move towards a place-based approach for clarifying ethical implications, inform policy in universities, and understand how injustices are created through the use of and ability to purchase different substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to drinking abstinence, the encouragement of moderating drinking is a pragmatic and sensible approach to addressing excessive alcohol consumption. This study explores how students' perceptions of facilitators of moderate drinking vary between a wet (New Zealand) and dry drinking country (Vietnam). A qualitative survey was conducted with 227 and 278 respondents from New Zealand and Vietnam, respectively. Aligning with the behavioral ecological framework, the content analysis reveals that students perceive several factors to encourage moderate drinking at the individual (e.g., controllability and coping skills), social (e.g., peer influences), and environmental level (e.g., alternatives to drinking). The response variations between the two countries provided novel insights into cultural differences in students' perceptions, with internal factors exerting stronger influence in the dry culture and external influences being more prominent in the wet culture. The findings offer recommendations to inform nonprofit and social marketing in the areas of alcohol control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate associations between alcohol consumption patterns and diet quality, nutrient intakes and biochemical profile of women of childbearing age.Design: Nutrient intake data from 24 h diet recalls, alcohol consumption data and diet quality from the Dietary Habits Questionnaire, and biochemical analyses from the cross-sectional 2008/09 Adult Nutrition Survey in New Zealand.Setting: New Zealand households.Participants: New Zealand women aged 18-45 years (n 1124).Results: All analyses were completed using Stata and survey weights were used to allow for the complex survey design to produce population estimates. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between drinking patterns and the variables of interest, with 'infrequent moderate/light' drinkers being the reference category. The findings indicate that alcohol-consuming women of childbearing age tend to replace food energy with alcohol energy (P = 0·022). 'More frequent heavy' and 'more frequent moderate/light' drinkers had higher intakes of total, mono- and polyunsaturated fats with the latter group also consuming higher levels of saturated fats (P < 0·05). Women who were 'infrequent moderate/light' drinkers had relatively better diet quality, nutrient intakes and adequate biochemical status in comparison to other drinkers and abstainers. 'Infrequent heavy' drinkers, who were predominantly younger in age, had lower serum vitamin B12 levels (P = 0·01) with a higher proportion of women in this category having below-recommended levels of serum folate (P < 0·05).Conclusions: Alcohol consumption, especially heavy drinking patterns, may compromise nutritional status of women of childbearing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe how for some high‐ and middle‐income countries, the total volume of alcohol, including volume consumed in harmful drinking occasions, is distributed across drinking locations in each country. Methods: Population surveys of drinkers were conducted as part of the International Alcohol Control Study in New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam and Thailand. Consumption data were collected using a beverage‐ and location‐specific measure that also allows for the measurement of unrecorded alcohol. Results: In the high‐income countries, the percentage of absolute alcohol consumed in harmful drinking occasions was 44% in New Zealand and 51% in Australia. In the middle‐income countries, the proportions were 55% in Vietnam and 66% in Thailand. The vast majority of alcohol was consumed in private homes (67% or above in all four countries). Private homes were also the location where the highest percentage of alcohol was consumed in harmful drinking occasions (range 33% in New Zealand to 44% in Vietnam). Unrecorded/untaxed alcohol was of considerable importance for heavier drinking occasions in private homes in Vietnam. Bars and nightclubs were more likely locations for harmful drinking in the high‐income countries relative to the middle‐income countries. Conclusions: As the majority of alcohol consumed in each country, including in harmful drinking occasions, was consumed in private homes, these findings make take‐away alcohol a focus for alcohol policy including trading hour and pricing policies. Unrecorded alcohol was also of considerable importance in Vietnam, highlighting the importance of the policy responses being developed to address unrecorded alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Understanding professionals' views and needs can help advance service provision and improve future training opportunities, Therefore, the current study examined the experiences of Australian and New Zealand professionals who have attended fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)-specific training and the impact of this training on their current practices.Methods: A total of 52 health and education professionals from Australia and New Zealand completed an online survey that asked about their training experiences; changes in practice following training; their experiences implementing assessments in their workplace; and, for Australian professionals, their experiences of using the recently released Australian Guide to FASD diagnosis.Results: Respondents described a range of perceived practice changes following training attendance. These included increases in: asking about alcohol use during pregnancy; providing referrals for assessments; providing assessments and consultation with other professionals regarding FASD diagnosis. Qualitative findings also demonstrated themes of increased knowledge, awareness and/or confidence about providing neurodevelopmental assessments and FASD diagnosis following training.Conclusions: This is the first study to document training and practice experiences of Australian and New Zealand professionals in relation to FASD. Overall, training efforts were well received by professionals and were effective in changing professionals' self-reported practice. Future investment in FASD-specific training initiatives and increased resources to enable neurodevelopmental assessments for all complex presentations, including FASD, is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While research in high‐income countries (HICs) has established high costs associated with alcohol's harm to others (AHTO) in the workplace, scant attention has been paid to AHTO in the workplace in lower‐ or middle‐income countries (LMICs). Aim: To compare estimates and predictors of alcohol's impacts upon coworkers among workers in 12 countries. Methods: Cross‐sectional surveys from 9,693 men and 8,606 women employed in Switzerland, Australia, the United States, Ireland, New Zealand, Chile, Nigeria, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka. Five questions were asked about harms in the past year because of coworkers' drinking: Had they (i) covered for another worker; (ii) worked extra hours; (iii) been involved in an accident or close call; or had their (iv) own productivity been reduced; or (v) ability to do their job been affected? Logistic regression and meta‐analyses were estimated with 1 or more harms (vs. none) as the dependent variable, adjusting for age, sex, rurality of location, and the respondent worker's own drinking. Results: Between 1% (New Zealand) and 16% (Thailand) of workers reported that they had been adversely affected by a coworker's drinking in the previous year (with most countries in the 6 to 13% range). Smaller percentages (<1% to 12%) reported being in an accident or close call due to others' drinking. Employed men were more likely to report harm from coworkers' drinking than employed women in all countries apart from the United States, New Zealand, and Vietnam, and own drinking pattern was associated with increased harm in 5 countries. Harms were distributed fairly equally across age and geographic regions. Harm from coworkers' drinking was less prevalent among men in HICs compared with LMICs. Conclusions: Workforce impairment because of drinking extends beyond the drinker in a range of countries and impacts productivity and economic development, particularly affecting men in LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims: Alcohol use impacts workplace productivity in terms of absence and reduced performance by employees. This study's aims were to estimate the cost of lost productivity associated with alcohol use in New Zealand and to describe and quantify its impact on employers.Design and Methods: An online survey was completed by 800 New Zealand employees and 227 employers across a range of industries. The costs of lost productivity directly attributable to alcohol use were estimated using days off work (absenteeism), lost hours of productive time while at work (presenteeism) and hours spent by employers dealing with alcohol-related issues. Ordinal logistic regression was used to explore the association between employee characteristics and reduced workplace productivity associated with alcohol consumption.Results: The estimated annual average cost of lost productivity per employee was NZ$1097.71 (NZ$209.62 absenteeism, NZ$888.09 presenteeism) and NZ$134.62 per employer. At a population level this equates to approximately NZ$1.65 billion per year. The significant predictors of reduced workplace performance were being younger (less than 25 years), male, having a stressful job and drinking more than the recommended standard number of drinks per session.Discussion and Conclusions: Considering absenteeism costs alone will substantially underestimate the total productivity loss associated with alcohol use. Designing and effectively targeting a set of multifaceted policies to engineer change at both the workplace and societal levels will assist in reducing the costs of lost productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the socially shared meanings of alcohol use among Indigenous older Māori in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Using a Māori-centred research approach, hui (meeting/s) were held with five kaupapa whānau (groups with a common purpose), comprising older Māori (n = 19), who shared their perspectives of alcohol use. Kōrerorero (discussion) from each kaupapa whānau was used to configure a shared narrative of older Māori alcohol use. Alcohol use is understood in the context of whanaungatanga (maintaining relationships) which was identified as the primary driver for older Māori engagement in alcohol use environments. However, participants argued that alcohol is not necessary to experience whanaungatanga and alternative options for alcohol free events that support whanaungatanga were shared. These findings highlight the importance of whanaungatanga among Māori and suggest the need for events and activities that support whanaungatanga, rather than alcohol use, to enhance the health and well-being of older Māori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background and aims: Emergency department (ED) alcohol‐related presentation data are not routinely collected in Australia and New Zealand. It is likely that previous research has underestimated the numbers of patients presenting with alcohol‐related conditions. This study aimed to quantify the level of alcohol harm presenting to EDs in Australia and New Zealand [Correction added on 23 Jan 2018, after first online publication: The ‘aims’ section was missing and is updated in this version]. Design: Multi‐centre, prospective study. Patients were screened prospectively for alcohol‐related presentations during a 7‐day period in December 2014. Part 1 involved screening to determine alcohol‐positive ED presentations and data collection of patient demographic and clinical information. Part 2 involved a consent‐based survey conducted with patients aged ≥ 14 years to perform Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. Setting: Eight EDs in Australia and New Zealand, representing differing hospital role delineations. Participants: A total of 8652 patients aged ≥ 14 years attended and 8435 (97.5%) were screened. Measurements: The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients who had an alcohol‐related presentation termed ‘alcohol‐positive’, using pre‐defined criteria. It included injuries, intoxication, medical conditions and injuries caused by an alcohol‐affected third party. Secondary outcomes included demographic and clinical information, the type of alcohol‐related presentations and AUDIT scores. Findings: A total of 801 [9.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8.9–10.1%] presentations were identified as alcohol‐positive, ranging between 4.9 and 15.2% throughout sites. Compared with alcohol‐negative patients, alcohol‐positive patients were more likely to be male [odds ratio (OR) = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.63–2.21], younger (median age 37 versus 46 years, P < 0.0001), arrive by ambulance (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.68–2.25) or police/correctional vehicle (OR = 4.56, 95% CI = 3.05–6.81) and require immediate treatment (OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 2.03–05.06). The median AUDIT score was 16 (interquartile range = 10–24). Conclusions: Almost one in 10 presentations to emergency departments in Australia and New Zealand are alcohol related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues: Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States experience a disproportionately high burden of harms from substance misuse. Research is therefore required to improve our understanding of substance use in Indigenous populations and provide evidence on strategies effective for reducing harmful use.Approach: A search of 13 electronic databases for peer-reviewed articles published between 1993 and 2014 focusing on substance use and Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Relevant abstracts were classified as data or non-data based research. Data-based studies were further classified as measurement, descriptive or intervention and their trends examined by country and drug type. Intervention studies were classified by type and their evaluation designs classified using the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) data collection checklist.Key Findings: There was a statistically significant increase from 1993 to 2014 in the percentage of total publications that were data-based (P < 0.001). Overall, data-based publications were mostly descriptive for all countries (84-93%) and drug types (74-95%). There were fewer measurement (0-4%) and intervention (0-14%) publications for all countries and the percentage of these did not change significantly over time. Forty-two percent of intervention studies employed an EPOC evaluation design.Implications: Strategies to increase the frequency and quality of measurement and intervention research in the Indigenous drug and alcohol field are required.Conclusion: The dominance of descriptive research in the Indigenous drug and alcohol field is less than optimal for generating evidence to inform Indigenous drug and alcohol policy and programs. [Clifford A, Shakeshaft A. A bibliometric review of drug and alcohol research focused on Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:509-522]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim was to identify a typology of drinkers in New Zealand based on alcohol consumption, beverage choice, and public versus private drinking locations and investigate the relationship between drinker types, harms experienced, and policy-related variables. Methods Model-based cluster analysis of male and female drinkers including volumes of alcohol consumed in the form of beer, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drinks ( RTDs) in off- and on-premise settings. Cluster membership was then related to harm measures: alcohol dependence, self-rated health; and to 3 policy-relevant variables: liking for alcohol adverts, price paid for alcohol, and time of purchase. Results Males and females were analyzed separately. Men fell into 4 and women into 14 clearly discriminated clusters. The male clusters consumed a relatively high proportion of alcohol in the form of beer. Women had a number of small extreme clusters and some consumed mainly spirits-based RTDs, while others drank mainly wine. Those in the higher consuming clusters were more likely to have signs of alcohol dependency, to report lower satisfaction with their health, to like alcohol ads, and to have purchased late at night. Conclusions Consumption patterns are sufficiently distinctive to identify typologies of male and female alcohol consumers. Women drinkers are more heterogeneous than men. The clusters relate differently to policy-related variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Aims: In December 1999, New Zealand lowered the alcohol minimum purchasing age from 20 to 18 years. We tested hypotheses that this change was associated with long-term increases in traffic injury attributable to alcohol-impaired driving among 18- to 19-year-olds (target age group) and 15- to 17-year-olds (affected by 'trickle-down').Design and Methods: We undertook a controlled before-and-after comparison of rates of fatal and non-fatal traffic injury to persons of any age attributable to impaired drivers aged 18-19 years and 15-17 years, versus 20- to 21-year-olds. Crash data including assessment of driver alcohol impairment were recorded by New Zealand Police. The pre-change period was 1996-1999. Post-change periods were 2000-2003, 2004-2007 and 2008-2010. Outcomes were population-based and vehicle travel-based rates.Results: Compared with the change in injury rates attributable to alcohol-impaired 20- to 21-year-old male drivers, injuries attributable to 18- to 19-year-old male drivers increased in all post-change periods and significantly so in the second post-change period (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 to 1.5). For 15- to 17-year-old male drivers, rates increased in all post-change periods compared with 20- to 21-year-olds, and more so in the second (IRR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4) and third (IRR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4) periods. There was a short-term relative increase in harm attributable to 18- to 19-year-old female drivers (IRR 1.5; 1.1 to 2.0). Results were similar for vehicle travel-based rates.Discussion and Conclusions: Reducing the alcohol minimum purchasing age was followed by long-term increases in the incidence of traffic injury attributable to male 15- to 19-year-old alcohol-impaired drivers. [Kypri K, Davie G, McElduff P, Langley J, Connor J. Long-term effects of lowering the alcohol minimum purchasing age on traffic crash injury rates in New Zealand. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:178-185]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We examined the extent to which ethnicity, cannabis and alcohol use could predict prevalence of violence and self-harm in an inpatient psychiatric sample.Method: We collected demographic and clinical data in a series of 141 adult psychiatric inpatients in Hamilton, New Zealand. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test, Revised (CUDIT-R) were used to measure substance use. Clinical assessment and file review were used to verify histories of self-harm and violence.Results: It was found that 66% had a history of violence, 54% of self-harm, and 40% of both; only 20% had neither. Cannabis use was found to significantly predict lifetime history of violence ( p = 0.02); other independent variables (gender, age, ethnicity, alcohol use, psychiatric diagnosis) did not. Self-harm was strikingly predicted by female gender ( p < 0.001), as well as by measures both of cannabis ( p = 0.025) and alcohol use ( p = 0.036); age, ethnicity and diagnosis did not reach significance. Less than 10% of patients were engaged with drug or alcohol services.Conclusions: Cannabis use is a significant predictor of lifetime violence among the severely mentally ill, while both alcohol and cannabis use predict self-harm. Few affected patients receive specific treatment for substance use comorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article briefly describes the context of women's drinking and alcohol policy in Aotearoa/New Zealand and the methodology of interviewing service providers about the impacts of women's alcohol consumption. It then analyses the views of 40 health and social welfare professionals about their perceptions of alcohol-related harms to women. It describes three spiralling factors that these workers perceived as both causing and resulting from women's drinking and the impacts on their staff and sectors of women's alcohol-related trauma. The study concludes that gender analysis is essential in addiction research and that qualitative research with experienced service providers may be a useful element in evaluating changes in social policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on a study by Maclennan and colleagues which examined local government responses to alcohol-related problems and adoption of alcohol policy. He mentions that the study offers an important contribution for better understanding of local alcohol policy development by presenting case studies from New Zealand. He states that the study is important because it could inform advocates and policymakers on effective coalitions, strategies and tactics, to put local policies into place.

Introduction and Aims: We investigate the relationship between outlet density (of different types) and violence (as measured by police activity) across the North Island of New Zealand, specifically looking at whether the relationships vary spatially.Design and Methods: We use New Zealand data at the census area unit (approximately suburb) level, on police-attended violent incidents and outlet density (by type of outlet), controlling for population density and local social deprivation. We employed geographically weighted regression to obtain both global average and locally specific estimates of the relationships between alcohol outlet density and violence.Result: We find that bar and night club density, and licensed club density (e.g. sports clubs) have statistically significant and positive relationships with violence, with an additional bar or night club is associated with nearly 5.3 additional violent events per year, and an additional licensed club associated with 0.8 additional violent events per year. These relationships do not show significant spatial variation. In contrast, the effects of off-licence density and restaurant/café density do exhibit significant spatial variation. However, the non-varying effects of bar and night club density are larger than the locally specific effects of other outlet types.Discussion and Conclusion: The relationships between outlet density and violence vary significantly across space for off-licences and restaurants/cafés. These results suggest that in order to minimise alcohol-related harms, such as violence, locally specific policy interventions are likely to be necessary. [Cameron MP, Cochrane W, Gordon C, Livingston M. Alcohol outlet density and violence: A geographically weighted regression approach. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:280-288]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Limited research suggests the context in which drinking occurs may contribute to specific alcohol-related consequences. Therefore the aims are to (i) determine whether the use of drinking contexts affects risks for several drinking consequences among young people in the general population and (ii) assess the degree to which additional risks are associated with greater levels of drinking in those contexts. Methods A New Zealand survey of 16- to 29-year-olds asked about context-specific drinking and incidence of alcohol-related consequences grouped as follows: total, alcohol-related disorderly behavior, symptoms of dependence, effects of heavier drinking, and felt effects the next day. A context-specific dose-response model separated the effects of frequency (i.e., how often someone consumes 1 drink in each context) and context-specific quantity (i.e., the count of each successive drink consumed above the first), and these were estimated as predictors of consequences. Demographic covariates were included. Results Exposure (number of visits): Increased exposure to drinking at bars/nightclubs, even at a very low level of consumption, that is, 1 drink, was independently related to the experience of greater consequences, including alcohol-related disorderly behavior. Risks for alcohol-related consequences were more strongly related to exposure to bars/nightclubs than they were to heavier drinking in that context. Greater use of private motor vehicles and outdoor public places was also associated with greater consequences (independently of the heavier drinking in these contexts). Quantity: Risk of consequences associated with others' home, restaurants, and own home depended primarily on quantity consumed. Conclusions Bars/nightclubs are inherently risky contexts for drinking by young people and improved controls are required. Drinking at others' home, private motor vehicles, and outdoor public places were also associated with consequences; prevention efforts increasing the price and reducing the availability of takeaway alcohol should work to reduce consequences at these contexts. Innovative context-specific interventions may be useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of pre-loading—drinking large amounts of alcohol rapidly in private spaces prior to socialising in the night-time economy—has come to notice recently in the study of alcohol-related harm, but no studies have explored these phenomena in Aotearoa New Zealand. We used a theoretical framework developed with public health alcohol studies for understanding drinking cultures that conceptualises patterns of behaviours as arising within a dynamic interaction between forces of hedonism, function and control. We report findings from 34 focus groups conducted with 18–25 year olds as part of a project supported by the Marsden Fund, between 2011 and 2012, to investigate drinking cultures among young people. Our thematic analyses of participants’ accounts of pre-loading show that the term is in common use, applying to a range of practices motivated by price of alcohol but influenced by the pleasures of intoxication, the importance of peer processes and certain aspects of the regulatory system. We conclude with a discussion of the usefulness of the framework and the implications of the findings for public health policy that aims to reduce alcohol consumption and the harm that arises from it. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: We aimed to quantify associations between drinking and mental well-being, self-esteem and general self-efficacy among New Zealand university students approaching graduation.Methods: A web-based survey was conducted across all eight New Zealand universities in 2011. Participants were enrolled in their final year of a bachelor degree or a higher qualification and were aged 25 years and under (n = 5082, response level 65 %). Measures included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, and items from the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and General Self-efficacy Scale. Linear regression models were used to estimate associations between the psychological measures and (1) drinking patterns for all participants (abstention/moderate/hazardous); and (2) consumption indicators for non-abstaining participants (frequency/quantity/heavy drinking frequency), adjusting for a range of individual, social and personality characteristics, separately for men and women.Results: Lower mental well-being was associated with a moderate or hazardous drinking pattern for men, and a hazardous pattern for women, compared to abstaining participants. Higher self-esteem was associated with any level of heavy drinking frequency for men, while the heaviest drinking women had a pattern of lower self-esteem. There was a general pattern of higher general self-efficacy for men and women who drank alcohol.Conclusions: We observed that higher levels of drinking were associated with small, yet statistically significant, differences in psychological outcomes for men and women. Our findings are of uncertain clinical significance; however, they underscore the importance of investigating a fuller range of social and personality factors that may confound the association of drinking and psychological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]