Alcohol is an easily accessed, socially common product and is often easy to forget it’s a depressant drug that can have serious side effects. 

Small amounts of alcohol can be social and fun. Large amounts can be toxic and deadly. 

The earlier a young person starts heavy drinking, the greater the chance of problems later. 

Teenagers are still maturing physically, mentally and emotionally. They are more susceptible to harm when socialising with alcohol.

The levels of intoxication and effects depend on things like gender, body size, metabolism, personal experience, mood and circumstances – for example, whether they are drinking alongside use of other drugs or have eaten food recently. 

Teenage ‘binge’ drinking is a serious social and health issue. Don’t turn a blind eye or ignore it. 

the facts 

• The earlier heavy drinking begins, the greater the chance of problems later on. 
  
• Permanent alcohol-related liver and brain damage in young people is increasing. 
  
• A third of teenage girls were drunk when they had unsafe and unwanted sex. 10% of young girls report that alcohol was the main reason for first-time sex. 
  
• 50-70% of all police responses are alcohol related. 
  
• Young New Zealanders abusing alcohol are three times more likely to violently offend. 
  
• Alcohol is associated with other risk taking behaviours with undesirable consequences e.g. unwanted sexual contact, unprotected sex, drugs and riding in cars with other drunk people 
  
• Alcohol abuse is one of the factors that predispose young people to suicide. 
  

drinking and driving 

The best advice for all drivers is IF YOU’RE GOING TO DRINK DON’T DRIVE. 

Young people are less tolerant to alcohol than adults and the law reflects this in the reduced amounts of alcohol permitted before breaking the law. 

If your teenager is the Sober Driver on a restricted license, the passenger must have held a full licence for at least two years and also be sober. Otherwise the driver can get an infringement. 

supply to under 18's 

Under the Sale of Liquor Act, generally, only a parent or legal guardian can buy or supply someone under 18 with alcohol. The only exception in the legislation is for a ‘private social gathering’. Exactly what this means is not defined in the legislation so is open to different interpretations. As a general rule the people coming need a personal invitation, and no money can change hands i.e. if anyone can come then it isn’t a private social gathering and alcohol cannot be sold at the event or included in the ticket price.

It is important to note that anyone who sells alcohol can be prosecuted if it can be shown that they knew alcohol was going to be illegally supplied to someone under 18.  

ALAC reports that young people when surveyed expressed the view that: 

There’s nothing wrong with drinking lots – everyone does it. 

Drinking and drunkenness were all part of the rites of passage in New Zealand. 

It was good fun. 

Adults did it too so why all the hypocrisy.

This culture provides tacit approval of purchase and supply by those under the minimum legal purchase age. Parents and other adults manifest this tacit approval by supplying alcohol to minors. 

Parents legally supply 67% of alcohol used by those under the minimum legal age (18yrs). 

As a parent or caregiver, ask yourself if you are doing enough to model responsible drinking behaviour, and if not, do something about it! 

And think about the consequences before you supply your teenager with drink.