 'URGENT' WAIPIRO WAITANGI TRIBUNAL CLAIM ACCEPTED
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As reported this month, Māori warden David Ratu (Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto) has filed a claim for an urgent hearing with the Waitangi Tribunal on behalf of all Māori suffering disproportionately from the negative impacts arising from the sale and supply of alcohol.
In brief, the claim concerns the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act and how it fails to include reference to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, fails to guarantee that Māori have ‘standing’ within licensing objections, and fails to guarantee Māori representation on bodies that decide whether an alcohol licence is granted. These failings result in Māori being silenced in the licensing process.
On the 12th of March, this claim was notified as being accepted as an 'Urgent' claim. The Crown is due to respond to the claim shortly. The additional waipiro claim to the Waitangi Tribunal's Kaupapa Inquiry into Health Services and Outcomes is still to be heard. David’s persistence and strength of purpose continues to inspire our work at Alcohol Healthwatch. |
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 APRIL 18: FASD ACTION PLAN 2016-2019 HUI
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The University of Auckland Centre for Addiction Research and Alcohol Healthwatch have, over several years, hosted hui for stakeholders to explore and inform planning around the New Zealand FASD Action Plan. The Cross–Ministry Plan has been in operation since 2016. At the time it was described by the Associate Minister of Health, Hon. Peter Dunne, as a “first attempt to take a strategic approach to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder”.
This hui is an opportunity to reflect and build on the work that has begun. Based on your knowledge and experiences, we want you to have a say in what that should look like.
Thursday April 18th, 8:30am to 12:30pm, Jetpark Convention Centre, Mangere, Auckland
RSVP is essential. There is no charge to attend for those with registration confirmed by email. Refreshments will be provided for morning tea but lunch is not included.
Please register by emailing Christine Rogan christine@ahw.org.nz before Friday 12th April or contact Christine on 09 520 7037 for further information. The panui for the event is available here.
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 OPINION POLL '19: STRONG SUPPORT FOR ACTION ON ALCOHOL
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UMR polling in February, commissioned by Alcohol Healthwatch, found:
- 80% of New Zealanders supported taking societal action to reduce alcohol-related harm. Domestic harm, child harm, alcohol abuse, drink-driving and costs to society were the key reasons that New Zealanders gave in support for the need to take action.
- 61% supported increasing the price of alcohol as long as the extra money could be used for mental health and addiction services.
- 73% believed that children should not be exposed to alcohol advertising and sponsorship.
In general, higher levels of support were found among Labour Party supporters, Pacific respondents, Asian respondents and females.
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DATA RELEASE: ALCOHOL AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMPTION 2018
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The amount of alcohol available for consumption for the calendar year 2018 has been released.
- The total volume of alcoholic beverages available for consumption rose 1.3% to 482 million litres
- The volume of beer rose 1.4% to 293 million litres
- The volume of wine fell 1.3% to 109 million litres
- The volume of spirits (including spirit-based drinks) rose 4.9% to 80 million litres
- The total volume of pure alcohol in alcoholic beverages for consumption rose 1.7%.
Note: An indication of population growth in NZ for 2017/18 financial year was 1.9%.
In relation to the total amount of pure alcohol available, 37% was from beer, 33% from wine, and 30% from spirits and spirits-based drinks.
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NZHS 2018/19 HAZARDOUS DRINKING STATS OUT THIS WEEK
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The second release of alcohol consumption data from the New Zealand Health Survey 2017/2018 is due this week. Alcohol Healthwatch will send on a summary of the results shortly after.
We expect data to be released on the following:
- Prevalence of hazardous drinkers, among all drinkers
- Prevalence of drinking 6+ alcoholic drinks on one occasion - at least monthly (drinkers, total)
- Prevalence of drinking 6+ alcoholic drinks on one occasion - at least weekly (drinkers, total)
The denominator (total population vs. among drinkers) is very important in identifying and explaining trends in alcohol use. For example, we always need to determine if changes in the pattern of drinking in the total population are also reflected by changes in the style of drinking among drinkers.
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TAX WORKING GROUP FINAL REPORT
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In February, the Tax Working Group published its Final Report recommending that the Government review the rate structure for alcohol excise tax.
The alcohol excise tax structure is unnecessarily complex and includes many anomalies that result in significant under-taxing of wine as well as incentivising production of higher strength products.
Alcohol Healthwatch submitted that the tax structure urgently needs to change and that the rates of tax across all beverages must be increased to reduce alcohol consumption and harm. Today, alcohol can be purchased for as little as 68 cents per standard drink and overall affordability of alcohol has been increasing over time.
Strong evidence shows that increasing the price of alcohol is both effective and highly cost-effective. Every New Zealander stands to benefit from reduced alcohol harm, and the significant cost savings would alleviate the burden on sectors such as Police, Justice, ACC and Health.
The Government expects to release their response to the Final Report in April. Alcohol Healthwatch's response is here. |
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UPDATE: ACTION ON ALCOHOL ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP
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'SETTLED' ASA COMPLAINT FEATURING HIGH-PROFILE ALL BLACKS
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Last month, Alcohol Healthwatch laid a complaint with the ASA concerning Moët & Chandon champagne sponsorship advertisements associated with the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland. The advertising featured two high-profile, current All Blacks and were published on their Instagram accounts.
We were particularly concerned about the product being shown in the sponsorship advertisements as well as the use of heroes of the young.
Moët Hennessy has since raised the issue with the parties involved as well as with the players' management, and the advertisement has been removed from the Instagram accounts.
You can read the decision here.
We would like to note that there has been previous concern about the use of social media stars in relation to paid sponsorship.
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IRELAND PROTECTS CHILDREN FROM ALCOHOL ADVERTISING
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 It is now 234 days until alcohol advertising in Ireland is prohibited:
• on or in public service vehicles
• at public transport stops or stations
• within 200 metres of a school, a crèche or a local authority playground.
Well done Ireland!
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ALCOHOL SPONSORSHIP REPLACED TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH
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Health and Mental Health Minister for Western Australia, Roger Cook, has announced a new 3-year $855,000 partnership between Healthway and the West Australian Country Football League (WACFL) to build club capacity and support for mental health. A key benefit of the partnership is the removal of alcohol advertising and promotions from clubs, ovals and uniforms across the 25 country football leagues. The partnership between Healthway and WACFL provides an innovative example of promoting well-being in communities.
Alcohol Healthwatch strongly believes that alcohol sponsorship could and should be removed and replaced from community, elite, and professional sports in New Zealand. A modest increase in the HPA levy on all alcohol sold could fund the replacement of alcohol sponsorship at all levels of sport. This could happen now; a law change is not required, just commitment. |
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BASEBALL AUSTRALIA SAYS 'NO' TO ALCOHOL SPONSORSHIP
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The NRL and other major codes have been urged to follow the lead of Baseball Australia after it became the first national sporting organisation to ban alcohol sponsorship. Baseball Australia CEO Cam Vale said:
“Alcohol branding, for our industry, doesn’t make sense. It isn’t a natural fit. What are the brands we should be pursuing? Probably not alcohol brands. It's not easy commercially, but it doesn't mean you don't make the difficult decisions."
Alcohol Healthwatch welcomes the leadership shown by Baseball Australia, and looks forward to other codes stepping up to the plate and hitting alcohol sponsorship out of the park. |
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#DONTPINKMYDRINK
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In November 2018, academics working in the field of substance misuse at the Glasgow Caledonian University launched a social media campaign to call out cynical marketing linking alcohol to women's equality and empowerment. You don't have to look far in New Zealand to see many examples of the use of pink marketing/products or the use of 'empowering' messages to sell alcohol to women.
The campaign is in "response to evidence of the alcohol industry increasingly targeting women through gender-specific design, packaging and advertising. This marketing reinforces stereotypes and risks subverting positive progress on gender equality."
We encourage you to share examples you see to #dontpinkmydrink
Click here to read "How alcohol companies are using International Women’s Day to sell more drinks to women". |
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RESEARCH UPDATE
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Hot off the press is a wealth of high-quality alcohol research. Email Alcohol Healthwatch if you do not have access to any of the full-text versions below.
Alcohol policy and density research
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose: a Review of Recent Alcohol Policy Developments in Europe
Comparing alcohol with tobacco indicates that it is time to move beyond tobacco exceptionalism
The Impact of Alcohol Restriction on health services utilisation in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia
Assessing the impacts of minimum legal drinking age laws on violent victimization in Canada
The effects of lowering blood alcohol concentration limits for drivers on the rates of road traffic accidents and alcohol consumption
Estimating the public health impact of disbanding a government alcohol monopoly
Exploration of the Thai alcohol policy in regulating alcohol industry's marketing strategies and commercial activities
State Alcohol Policies, Taxes, and Availability as Predictors of Adolescent Binge Drinking Trajectories into Early Adulthood
A new tool for unpacking policy debates over unhealthy commodities
Neighborhood density of alcohol outlets moderates genetic and environmental influences on alcohol problems
Consumption and drinking guidelines
New Estimates of the Mean Ethanol Content of Beer, Wine, and Spirits Sold in the United States Show a Greater Increase in Per Capita Alcohol Consumption than Previous Estimates
Associations between socio-economic factors and alcohol consumption
Maintaining guideline transparency and pragmatism in the post‐truth era
Consumption in 22 Countries: Are Women at Higher Risk Than Men?
Comparison of age of first drink and age of first intoxication as predictors of substance use and mental health problems in adulthood
Racial Discrimination and Alcohol Use and Negative Drinking Consequences among Black Americans: A Meta‐Analytic Review
Physical and mental health effects and harm to others
The effect of alcohol on osteoporosis; a systematic review and meta-analysis
The social location of harm from others’ drinking in 10 societies
How should we set consumption thresholds for low risk drinking guidelines?
Health Conditions Related to Alcohol Consumption Cessation Among 97,852 Drinkers Aged 45 and Over in Australia
Alcohol's harms to others in Wales, United Kingdom: Nature, magnitude and associations with mental well-being
Prenatal alcohol exposure and offspring mental health: A systematic review
Addressing substance misuse: a missed opportunity in suicide prevention
Longitudinal study of intimate partner violence in emerging adulthood and subsequent substance use disorders
Industry
Alcohol Industry CSR Organisations: What Can Their Twitter Activity Tell Us about Their Independence and Their Priorities?
End government support for pro-alcohol research
Parental factors
Alcohol and parenthood: an integrative analysis of the effects of transition to parenthood in three Australasian cohorts
Longitudinal study of parental knowledge of children’s whereabouts and alcohol use
Advertising
Content, perceptions and impact of alcoholic drink promotions in nightlife venues that are targeted towards students
Brand advertising and brand sharing of alcoholic and non‐alcoholic products, and the effects on young Thai people's attitudes towards alcohol use
Awareness of alcohol marketing, ownership of alcohol branded merchandise, and the association with alcohol consumption and drinking susceptibility in adolescents and young adults
Health services
Investigating the management of alcohol‐related presentations in an Australian teaching hospital
Smartphone application for unhealthy alcohol use: Pilot randomized controlled trial in the general population |
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Don’t forget to encourage others to visit our website to sign up to our e-news!
Also join us on Twitter and Facebook
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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Ph. 09 520 7036 www.ahw.org.nz Feel free to join us on Facebook and Twitter
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