• New Zealand Gambling Survey
    • Health and Lifestyles Survey
    • Alcohol Use in New Zealand
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      Health and Lifestyles Survey
      • All respondents
      • Alcohol
      • Eating
      • Gambling
      • Māori cultural identity
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      • Never drinkers
      • Non-drinkers (last year)
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      • Drinkers (last year)
      • Drinkers - non-heavy (monthly)
      • Drinkers – heavy (atleast monthly)
      • Typical drinking day - one or two standard drinks
      • Typical drinking day - three or four standard drinks
      • Typical drinking day - five or six standard drinks
      • Typical drinking day - seven to nine standard drinks
      • Typical drinking day - 10 or more standard drinks
      Health and Lifestyles Survey Alcohol Alcohol consumption Drinkers – heavy (atleast monthly)

      Alcohol consumption

      Alcohol

      Indicator: Drinkers – heavy (atleast monthly)

      New Zealand adults who have six or more standard drinks on one occasion at least monthly.

        • Graphs
        • Data
      2020 Health and Lifestyles Survey

      This is the percentage of the population affected (that is, the unadjusted prevalence in the specified population).

      Estimated numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000 people.

      Time trends

      This chart presents unadjusted results; that is the overall prevalence estimate for each survey year. Data points only appear where there is data available.

      The comparison between years is only available where the same questions were asked in more than one survey year.

      Age and sex

      Ethnicity (total)

      Total response ethnicity means that people who reported belonging to more than one ethnic group are counted once in each group they reported.

      Source: Health and Lifestyles Survey

      Notes:

      • Missing bar in chart indicates insufficient sample size.

      Prevalence for selected indicator

      This table shows the percentage of the population affected.

      Show
      Total
      Men
      Women
      Estimated number of adults
      % (.95CI) % (.95CI) % (.95CI) Total (.95CI)
      Total 19.9 ( 17.9 - 22.1 ) 27.7 ( 24.4 - 31.1 ) 12.5 ( 10.3 - 15 ) 815,000 ( 731,000 - 905,000 )
      Age group (years)
      18-24 40.8 ( 28.8 - 53.8 ) 48.2 ( 34 - 62.6 ) 34.3 ( 21.4 - 49.1 ) 196,000 ( 138,000 - 258,000 )
      25-44 21.8 ( 18.8 - 25.1 ) 32.0 ( 26.6 - 37.7 ) 11.6 ( 8.7 - 15.1 ) 307,000 ( 264,000 - 353,000 )
      45-64 17.2 ( 14.3 - 20.3 ) 23.6 ( 18.4 - 29.5 ) 11.4 ( 8.3 - 15 ) 213,000 ( 178,000 - 252,000 )
      65+ 9.2 ( 6.2 - 13.1 ) 15.5 ( 9.6 - 23.2 ) 3.3 ( 1.5 - 6 ) 79,000 ( 53,000 - 112,000 )
      Ethnicity (total)
      Māori 31.0 ( 27.2 - 35.1 ) 42.6 ( 36.5 - 48.8 ) 20.0 ( 15.7 - 24.9 ) 183,000 ( 160,000 - 207,000 )
      Pacific 23.0 ( 17.8 - 28.9 ) 29.5 ( 21.2 - 38.9 ) 16.7 ( 10.4 - 24.9 ) 65,000 ( 50,000 - 81,000 )
      Asian 7.1 ( 3.8 - 11.8 ) 11.1 ( 5.2 - 20 ) 3.2 ( 0.8 - 8.2 ) 49,000 ( 27,000 - 83,000 )
      NZ European / Other 22.4 ( 19.7 - 25.2 ) 30.9 ( 26.6 - 35.4 ) 14.0 ( 11.2 - 17.3 ) 643,000 ( 567,000 - 724,000 )
      Neighbourhood deprivation
      Least (1-3) 19.2 ( 15.9 - 23 ) 29.4 ( 22.8 - 36.8 ) 9.6 ( 6.2 - 14.1 ) 251,000 ( 207,000 - 300,000 )
      Mid (4-7) 17.9 ( 14.8 - 21.5 ) 24.7 ( 20.2 - 29.7 ) 11.2 ( 7.8 - 15.5 ) 312,000 ( 257,000 - 373,000 )
      Most (8-10) 24.2 ( 18.2 - 30.9 ) 30.6 ( 23.1 - 38.8 ) 18.1 ( 12.3 - 25.2 ) 253,000 ( 191,000 - 323,000 )
      Total
      Men
      Women
      Estimated number of adults
      % (.95CI) % (.95CI) % (.95CI) Total (.95CI)
      Total 25.3 ( 23.4 - 27.2 ) 30.9 ( 28.1 - 33.8 ) 19.9 ( 17.6 - 22.4 ) 952,000 ( 880,000 - 1,026,000 )
      Age group (years)
      18-24 42.1 ( 35.3 - 49.2 ) 40.4 ( 30 - 51.5 ) 44.0 ( 34 - 54.3 ) 218,000 ( 182,000 - 254,000 )
      25-44 30.4 ( 26.9 - 34.1 ) 35.4 ( 30.2 - 41 ) 25.6 ( 21.2 - 30.3 ) 370,000 ( 327,000 - 415,000 )
      45-64 23.3 ( 20.4 - 26.5 ) 33.1 ( 28.2 - 38.3 ) 14.8 ( 11.5 - 18.7 ) 279,000 ( 244,000 - 317,000 )
      65+ 9.4 ( 6.8 - 12.6 ) 15.1 ( 10.5 - 20.7 ) 3.9 ( 1.8 - 7.4 ) 64,000 ( 46,000 - 86,000 )
      Ethnicity (total)
      Māori 43.2 ( 38.3 - 48.2 ) 47.2 ( 39.5 - 55.1 ) 39.6 ( 33.1 - 46.4 ) 214,000 ( 190,000 - 239,000 )
      Pacific 29.2 ( 23.1 - 35.9 ) 38.8 ( 29 - 49.3 ) 19.0 ( 12.1 - 27.6 ) 74,000 ( 58,000 - 91,000 )
      Asian 8.6 ( 5.1 - 13.4 ) 9.3 ( 4.5 - 16.6 ) 7.9 ( 3.5 - 14.8 ) 47,000 ( 28,000 - 73,000 )
      NZ European / Other 27.3 ( 25 - 29.8 ) 33.8 ( 30.3 - 37.4 ) 21.2 ( 18.3 - 24.3 ) 782,000 ( 714,000 - 853,000 )
      Neighbourhood deprivation
      Least (1-3) 22.8 ( 19 - 27 ) 28.6 ( 23.2 - 34.5 ) 17.6 ( 13 - 22.9 ) 266,000 ( 221,000 - 315,000 )
      Mid (4-7) 25.1 ( 21.9 - 28.4 ) 29.3 ( 24.6 - 34.4 ) 21.1 ( 17.2 - 25.4 ) 409,000 ( 358,000 - 463,000 )
      Most (8-10) 28.6 ( 25 - 32.5 ) 36.0 ( 30.9 - 41.3 ) 20.9 ( 16.8 - 25.6 ) 277,000 ( 242,000 - 314,000 )
      Total
      Men
      Women
      Estimated number of adults
      % (.95CI) % (.95CI) % (.95CI) Total (.95CI)
      Total 26.4 ( 24.1 - 28.7 ) 34.2 ( 30.4 - 38.2 ) 19.0 ( 16.2 - 22.1 ) 950,000 ( 868,000 - 1,035,000 )
      Age group (years)
      18-24 46.4 ( 36.1 - 56.9 ) 53.8 ( 38.9 - 68.2 ) 39.5 ( 26 - 54.4 ) 224,000 ( 174,000 - 274,000 )
      25-44 35.5 ( 31.3 - 39.9 ) 46.3 ( 39.1 - 53.7 ) 25.5 ( 20.3 - 31.3 ) 412,000 ( 363,000 - 463,000 )
      45-64 20.4 ( 16.9 - 24.4 ) 26.7 ( 20.9 - 33.3 ) 14.6 ( 10.3 - 19.8 ) 224,000 ( 185,000 - 266,000 )
      65+ 8.0 ( 5.3 - 11.4 ) 13.9 ( 8.8 - 20.5 ) 2.7 ( 1.1 - 5.6 ) 56,000 ( 37,000 - 80,000 )
      Ethnicity (total)
      Māori 40.9 ( 35.2 - 46.8 ) 45.2 ( 36 - 54.7 ) 37.1 ( 29.5 - 45.2 ) 193,000 ( 166,000 - 220,000 )
      Pacific 30.4 ( 22.3 - 39.6 ) 36.6 ( 25 - 49.4 ) 24.4 ( 14.1 - 37.4 ) 68,000 ( 50,000 - 89,000 )
      Asian 11.0 ( 6 - 18.1 ) 17.2 ( 8.4 - 29.8 ) 5.2 ( 1.5 - 12.5 ) 51,000 ( 28,000 - 83,000 )
      NZ European / Other 27.2 ( 24.5 - 30.1 ) 35.7 ( 31.1 - 40.4 ) 19.4 ( 15.8 - 23.4 ) 747,000 ( 672,000 - 825,000 )
      Neighbourhood deprivation
      Least (1-3) 25.2 ( 20.1 - 30.7 ) 34.7 ( 26.6 - 43.6 ) 15.9 ( 10.3 - 23 ) 288,000 ( 230,000 - 352,000 )
      Mid (4-7) 26.7 ( 23.4 - 30.1 ) 32.7 ( 27.3 - 38.4 ) 20.7 ( 16.3 - 25.6 ) 415,000 ( 364,000 - 468,000 )
      Most (8-10) 28.0 ( 23 - 33.4 ) 36.9 ( 28.4 - 46.1 ) 20.5 ( 15.3 - 26.6 ) 247,000 ( 204,000 - 295,000 )
      Total
      Men
      Women
      Estimated number of adults
      % (.95CI) % (.95CI) % (.95CI) Total (.95CI)
      Total 28.9 ( 26.5 - 31.3 ) 38.1 ( 34.5 - 41.8 ) 20.2 ( 17.3 - 23.4 ) 1,009,000 ( 927,000 - 1,095,000 )
      Age group (years)
      18-24 53.3 ( 43.6 - 62.7 ) 67.1 ( 56.5 - 76.6 ) 40.4 ( 26.8 - 55.3 ) 255,000 ( 209,000 - 300,000 )
      25-44 35.5 ( 31.4 - 39.7 ) 47.4 ( 40.7 - 54.3 ) 24.5 ( 19.9 - 29.6 ) 406,000 ( 359,000 - 455,000 )
      45-64 21.6 ( 18.2 - 25.5 ) 29.6 ( 23.7 - 36.2 ) 14.7 ( 10.6 - 19.6 ) 240,000 ( 201,000 - 282,000 )
      65+ 9.8 ( 6.7 - 13.8 ) 15.2 ( 9.7 - 22.2 ) 4.6 ( 2 - 8.8 ) 61,000 ( 42,000 - 86,000 )
      Ethnicity (total)
      Māori 47.9 ( 42.9 - 52.9 ) 57.5 ( 50.3 - 64.5 ) 39.2 ( 32.5 - 46.2 ) 216,000 ( 194,000 - 239,000 )
      Pacific 33.2 ( 27.5 - 39.3 ) 43.8 ( 34.9 - 53 ) 23.1 ( 16.4 - 31 ) 68,000 ( 57,000 - 81,000 )
      Asian 9.5 ( 4.1 - 18.2 ) 12.5 ( 2.9 - 31.2 ) 6.8 ( 2.9 - 13.5 ) 38,000 ( 16,000 - 72,000 )
      NZ European / Other 28.5 ( 25.7 - 31.4 ) 38.1 ( 33.8 - 42.6 ) 19.7 ( 16.3 - 23.5 ) 812,000 ( 732,000 - 896,000 )
      Neighbourhood deprivation
      Least (1-3) 32.0 ( 26.4 - 38 ) 41.5 ( 32.8 - 50.7 ) 22.4 ( 15.7 - 30.4 ) 303,000 ( 250,000 - 360,000 )
      Mid (4-7) 25.9 ( 22.3 - 29.7 ) 34.7 ( 28.9 - 40.8 ) 18.0 ( 14.1 - 22.5 ) 388,000 ( 335,000 - 445,000 )
      Most (8-10) 30.3 ( 25 - 36 ) 39.7 ( 32.8 - 46.9 ) 21.5 ( 15.8 - 28.2 ) 318,000 ( 263,000 - 378,000 )

      The estimated number of people is the value that is inferred for that population based on data collected from the survey sample. Estimated numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000 people.

      Source: Health and Lifestyles Survey

      Notes:

      • This table presents unadjusted results; that is, the prevalence or mean estimates reflect the actual percentage or mean of the population affected in each time period.
      • Total response measure of ethnicity was used. People who reported belonging to more than one ethnic group are counted once in each group they reported.
      • Dashes indicate insufficient sample size.

      Subgroup Comparison (2020)

      Adjusted prevalence ratios are used to compare the results for different population subgroups. An adjusted ratio above 1 shows that the indicator is more likely, and an adjusted ratio below 1 shows the indicator is less likely, in the group of interest (e.g. Māori) than the reference group (e.g. non-Māori), after adjusting for demographic variables that could influence the association.

      Show

      Kaupapa Māori consistent data analysis planning was supported by Māori and Pasifika advisors at Health New Zealand. In alignment with Kaupapa Māori research and Te Tiriti ō Waitangi principles, comparisons were made between ethnic groupings in order to identify ethnic inequities.

      Equity-based ethnicity is only used for comparisons and is another form of total response. Unlike total response, which compares one ethnic group with everyone else in the sample, equity-based ethnicities compare Māori to non-Māori and non-Pacific. The same comparison group is used for Pacific peoples.

      Adjusted ratios
      Population groups being compared Ratio (95% CI) Adjustment variables
      Sex
      Women vs men 0.46 ( 0.37 - 0.56 ) Age
      Māori Equity
      Māori vs non-Māori & non-Pacific 1.51 ( 1.28 - 1.79 ) Age, Sex
      Men: Māori vs non-Māori & non-Pacific 1.52 ( 1.23 - 1.88 ) Age
      Women: Māori vs non-Māori & non-Pacific 1.5 ( 1.11 - 2.03 ) Age
      Pacific Equity
      Pacific vs non-Pacific & non-Māori 1.08 ( 0.85 - 1.37 ) Age, Sex
      Men: Pacific vs non-Pacific & non-Māori 1.02 ( 0.74 - 1.42 ) Age
      Women: Pacific vs non-Pacific & non-Māori 1.2 ( 0.75 - 1.91 ) Age
      Māori
      Māori vs non-Māori 1.51 ( 1.28 - 1.77 ) Age, Sex
      Men: Māori vs non-Māori 1.53 ( 1.24 - 1.88 ) Age
      Women: Māori vs non-Māori 1.47 ( 1.12 - 1.94 ) Age
      Pacific
      Pacific vs non-Pacific 0.99 ( 0.78 - 1.24 ) Age, Sex
      Men: Pacific vs non-Pacific 0.94 ( 0.69 - 1.29 ) Age
      Women: Pacific vs non-Pacific 1.09 ( 0.71 - 1.67 ) Age
      Asian
      Asian vs non-Asian 0.28 ( 0.16 - 0.48 ) Age, Sex
      Men: Asian vs non-Asian 0.32 ( 0.16 - 0.61 ) Age
      Women: Asian vs non-Asian 0.19 ( 0.06 - 0.64 ) Age
      Neighbourhood deprivation
      Most deprived vs least deprived 1.11 ( 0.85 - 1.45 ) Age, Sex, Ethnicity
      Men: Most deprived vs least deprived 0.95 ( 0.69 - 1.31 ) Age, Ethnicity
      Women: Most deprived vs least deprived 1.54 ( 0.97 - 2.46 ) Age, Ethnicity

      For example, an adjusted ratio of 1.50 for Māori vs non-Māori means that the indicator is 1.5 times more likely in Māori than non-Māori, after adjusting for differences in demographic variables such as sex and age.

      A highlighted value indicates that the adjusted ratio is statistically significant ( p value < .05).

      Source: Health and Lifestyles Survey

      Notes:

      • This table gives comparisons as adjusted prevalence ratios.
      • Population groups being compared are based on total ethnicity.
      • Neighbourhood deprivation groups are least (1 - 3), mid (4 - 7) and most deprived (8 - 10).
      • The model for neighbourhood deprivation used prioritised ethnicity as an adjustment variable.
      • Dashes indicate that reliable estimates are unavailable due to, for example, an insufficient sample size or unusually wide confidence interval.

      Changes over time

      This table presents unadjusted results; that is, the prevalence estimates reflect the actual percentage for the specified population in each survey year. Statistically significant differences between years are shown in bold ( p value < .05).

      Show
      Unadjusted prevalence
      Statistical significance of difference between years ( p value)
      Population group 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2012 and 2020 2014 and 2020 2016 and 2020 2018 and 2020
      Total 28.9 26.4 25.3 - 19.9 .000 .000 .000 -
      Men 38.1 34.2 30.9 - 27.7 .000 .012 .155 -
      Women 20.2 19.0 19.9 - 12.5 .000 .001 .000 -
      Age group (years)
      18-24 53.3 46.4 42.1 - 40.8 .122 .505 .863 -
      25-44 35.5 35.5 30.4 - 21.8 .000 .000 .000 -
      45-64 21.6 20.4 23.3 - 17.2 .061 .175 .004 -
      65+ 9.8 8.0 9.4 - 9.2 .817 .586 .937 -
      Ethnicity (total)
      Māori 47.9 40.9 43.2 - 31.0 .000 .006 .000 -
      Pacific 33.2 30.4 29.2 - 23.0 .014 .157 .151 -
      Asian 9.5 11.0 8.6 - 7.1 .557 .287 .600 -
      NZ European / Other 28.5 27.2 27.3 - 22.4 .002 .015 .008 -
      Neighbourhood deprivation
      Least (1-3) 32.0 25.2 22.8 - 19.2 .000 .071 .190 -
      Mid (4-7) 25.9 26.7 25.1 - 17.9 .002 .000 .003 -
      Most (8-10) 30.3 28.0 28.6 - 24.2 .152 .357 .235 -
      Unadjusted prevalence
      Statistical significance of difference between years ( p value)
      Population group 2012 2014 2016 2012 and 2016 2014 and 2016
      Total 28.9 26.4 25.3 .023 .476
      Men 38.1 34.2 30.9 .002 .177
      Women 20.2 19.0 19.9 .883 .631
      Age group (years)
      18-24 53.3 46.4 42.1 .064 .504
      25-44 35.5 35.5 30.4 .069 .072
      45-64 21.6 20.4 23.3 .485 .239
      65+ 9.8 8.0 9.4 .864 .495
      Ethnicity (total)
      Māori 47.9 40.9 43.2 .198 .553
      Pacific 33.2 30.4 29.2 .370 .822
      Asian 9.5 11.0 8.6 .830 .519
      NZ European / Other 28.5 27.2 27.3 .545 .953
      Neighbourhood deprivation
      Least (1-3) 32.0 25.2 22.8 .011 .496
      Mid (4-7) 25.9 26.7 25.1 .735 .496
      Most (8-10) 30.3 28.0 28.6 .624 .849
      Unadjusted prevalence
      Statistical significance of difference between years ( p value)
      Population group 2012 2014 2012 and 2014
      Total 28.9 26.4 .146
      Men 38.1 34.2 .154
      Women 20.2 19.0 .574
      Age group (years)
      18-24 53.3 46.4 .340
      25-44 35.5 35.5 .993
      45-64 21.6 20.4 .653
      65+ 9.8 8.0 .433
      Ethnicity (total)
      Māori 47.9 40.9 .076
      Pacific 33.2 30.4 .608
      Asian 9.5 11.0 .750
      NZ European / Other 28.5 27.2 .534
      Neighbourhood deprivation
      Least (1-3) 32.0 25.2 .090
      Mid (4-7) 25.9 26.7 .762
      Most (8-10) 30.3 28.0 .553
      Unadjusted prevalence
      Population group 2012
      Total 28.9
      Men 38.1
      Women 20.2
      Age group (years)
      18-24 53.3
      25-44 35.5
      45-64 21.6
      65+ 9.8
      Ethnicity (total)
      Māori 47.9
      Pacific 33.2
      Asian 9.5
      NZ European / Other 28.5
      Neighbourhood deprivation
      Least (1-3) 32.0
      Mid (4-7) 25.9
      Most (8-10) 30.3

      Source: Health and Lifestyles Survey

      Notes:

      • Total response measure of ethnicity was used. People who reported belonging to more than one ethnic group are counted once in each group they reported.
      • Dashes indicate that the data is not available.

      Indicator definition

      New Zealand adults who have six or more standard drinks on one occasion at least monthly.

      Heavy drinking is defined as six or more standard drinks for both men and women. The definition of a standard drink can be found on https://www.alcohol.org.nz/help-advice/standard-drinks/whats-a-standard-drink

      Questions about heavy consumption of alcohol were asked of respondents who drank alcohol in the last four weeks. Those who answered one or more occasions were defined as heavy drinkers.

      Prior to 2020, females were asked how many times they had five or more drinks, while males were asked how many times they had six or more drinks, on one occasion in the last four weeks.

      Question:
      How often do you have six or more standard drinks on one occasion?
      (Never / Less than monthly / Monthly / Weekly / Daily or almost daily)
      Interpretation notes
      Change in response rate

      Lower response rates in 2018 than in 2016 and 2020 among young (15 to 24 years) male Māori, young male NZ European/Other, young female Asian, and older (55+ years) male Asian respondents mean that comparisons of 2018 data with 2016 and 2020 should be made with caution. We recommend focusing on longer-term trends where possible.

      Impacts of Covid

      Interviewing for the 2020 Health and Lifestyles Survey was delayed for five months due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Interviewing was then suspended twice in the Auckland region in response to the alert level being raised to level 3. At all other times, interviewing took place at alert levels 1 and 2 with additional COVID-19 precautions in place. It is unclear what impact the delays to the survey and the pandemic response have had on the data. No adjustments have been made to account for the impacts of these delays and the pandemic response.

      Navigation

      Topic: Alcohol

      Subtopic: Alcohol consumption

      Source: Health and Lifestyles Survey

      Major word change (2020)

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