 Congratulations to Scotland for ushering in a brave new era
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MINIMUM UNIT PRICING
Headlines around the world heralded day one of the implementation of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) in Scotland. New Zealand media have also initiated local debate.
Other countries and jurisdictions are looking to follow suit; Northern Territory kicks off MUP on July 1 and on March 13, the Welsh Government's Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Bill passed its first reading.
New Zealand research concurs with overseas studies showing heavy (as well as frequent) drinkers are significantly more likely to purchase cheap alcohol.
The Ministry of Justice estimated that under a Minimum Unit Price of $1.20, low-risk drinkers will pay an additional $21 per year, increased risk drinkers an additional $54, and harmful drinkers will pay the most at $122 per year. This additional cost for harmful drinkers needs to be weighed against the findings that they benefit the most from this policy in terms of reduced alcohol-related deaths and hospital admissions for acute and chronic health harms. In particular, MUP is most effective for low income heavy drinkers. Equity needs to remain a primary focus for alcohol harm reduction policies.
MUP is just one of a suite of evidence-based strategies to reduce harm in our country. It targets the cheap end of the alcohol market. It cannot address the increasing affordability of all alcohol in New Zealand. To address affordability and reduce consumption across the population of New Zealand drinkers, we need immediate and significant increases in alcohol excise tax. By having both approaches, we can reduce both the absolute and relative inequities in alcohol harm.
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MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS INQUIRY - 'ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY'
Alcohol Healthwatch strongly welcomes the commencement of the Mental Health and Addictions Inquiry, a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to improve New Zealand’s approach to mental health and reduce our stubbornly high suicide rates.
Alcohol use is a major risk factor for poor mental health and suicide and is obviously linked strongly to the development of addiction/dependence. An approach to improving mental health in our country must address alcohol use. There is good evidence linking strong alcohol policies to reduced suicides, particularly among young males.
Regional meetings are being held around the country to have your say. The next meetings to take place are:
- NELSON 3 May, 5pm to 6.30pm - Seminar Centre, Braemar Campus, Nelson Hospital
- AUCKLAND 8 May, 5pm to 6.30pm - Clinical Education Centre Auditorium, Auckland City Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton.
- AUCKAND 10 May, 5pm to 6.30pm - Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae, Manukau Institute of Technology, NC Block, Gate 12, Otara Road, Otara.
Click here for dates and locations near you.
There are multiple ways to have your say during the Inquiry. Submissions close Tuesday 5 June – Alcohol Healthwatch will be assisting communities with their submissions and preparing an evidence-based briefing paper.
Written submissions, and summaries of oral submissions, may be published at the discretion of the Inquiry, or provided to third parties to facilitate participation in the Inquiry or comply with principles of natural justice. Please note that you can request confidentiality for your submission - click here to read more.
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AUCKLAND COUNCIL'S LOCAL ALCOHOL POLICY PROCEEDS TO HIGH COURT
Foodstuffs North Island, Progressive Enterprises and The Redwood Corporation (representing The Pelican Club brothel) had their first day in the High Court on April 12 in relation to the judicial reviews of Auckland Council’s Local Alcohol Policy. The judicial review appellants were seeking a stay in proceedings in relation to their ARLA appeals to the Amended Provisional LAP so that the judicial review be heard first.
If this stay is granted, it could be many years until Auckland Council’s LAP affords any protection to individuals and communities experiencing alcohol-related harm. Recent media has highlighted the problems associated with the LAP appeals process and Napier councillor Maxine Boag is to be congratulated for spearheading a remit with Local Government NZ (LGNZ) to tackle the challenges communities are facing in having their views and wishes upheld. |
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Beer advertising featuring double Olympic gold medallist Eric Murray has been found to be in breach of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Code for Advertising and Promotion of Alcohol, following a successful complaint from Alcohol Healthwatch.
“Prohibiting heroes of the young featuring in alcohol advertisements is intended to protect adolescents from the harmful effects of alcohol advertising. This example is one of many illustrating the failure of the alcohol industry’s self-regulatory approach to alcohol advertising” said Alcohol Healthwatch Executive Director Dr Nicki Jackson.
There has also been some fantastic coverage of the alcohol sports sponsorship debate. To watch TV3's The Nation, click here.
UMR polling in February, commissioned by Alcohol Healthwatch, showed 62% of New Zealanders supported the Government restricting alcohol advertising and sponsorship in the same way it restricts tobacco advertising and sponsorship. Higher levels of support were found among Pacific peoples (85% support), Green Party voters (74 % support), and NZ First voters (70% support). |
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Last month, Public Health and community stakeholders were invited to attend one of three public forums (Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch) on alcohol-related submission opportunities:
The forums were organised by Alcohol Healthwatch in collaboration with Hāpai te Hauora (Auckland), New Zealand Medical Association and New Zealand Nurses Organisation (Wellington), and the National Addiction Centre (University of Otago, Christchurch). We thank everyone for their attendance and participation (especially all of you who put submissions in!). Please contact us should you wish to receive the slides from the forums. (Photo: Dr Nicki Jackson, Executive Director)
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In the recently-published FASD World Health Organisation prevalence study in Toronto, Canada, 74.6% of biological mothers interviewed reported consuming alcohol prior to pregnancy recognition. This is similar to the 71% of pregnancies reported by biological mothers in the Growing up in NZ (GUINZ) study carried out in the Auckland and Waikato regions.
However, where the two countries diverge significantly is in the percentage of hazardous drinking prior to pregnancy recognition and the rate of continued drinking following pregnancy recognition. In the Canadian study, 11% of women were drinking at levels considered ‘high risk’ for FASD prior to pregnancy recognition, compared to the GUINZ prevalence of 29% drinking at hazardous levels (4 or more units per week).
Following pregnancy recognition, 23% of the GUINZ mothers drank alcohol in the first trimester and 13% thereafter, compared with 6.4% of mothers in the Canadian study drinking after pregnancy recognition.
Based on the rates of prenatal alcohol exposure, and all other factors being equal, New Zealand might expect a doubling or trebling in the 2-3% FASD prevalence found in the Canadian population-based study. |
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Hot off the press is a wealth of high-quality alcohol research. Of particular note is the large study of 599912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies finding that the threshold for the lowest risk for death and cardiovascular disease outcomes (other than heart attacks/myocardial infarctions) was approximately 10 standard drinks per week. Currently, the Health Promotion Agency low-risk drinking advice to reduce long-term health risks is to consume no more than 10 standard drinks per week for females and 15 standard drinks per week for males. These are to be reviewed in the near future, in light of growing evidence of the chronic harms from low levels of alcohol consumption. |
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DON'T FORGET!
Don’t forget to encourage others to visit our new website and sign up to our e-news!
Also, if you would like to receive our daily media clippings on alcohol-related stories, email Suzanne at ahw@ahw.org.nz
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