Helping reduce harm from alcohol in the community
Community and Public Health has several important roles relating to the prevention of alcohol-related harm in our region. These include health promotion, regulation and licensing, and local policy development.
There are a wide range of effects on communities from alcohol-related harm. Alcohol-related harm contributes to health conditions, injuries and social problems – costing the health sector and other sectors significant time, money and resources.
Source: Christchurch Alcohol Action Plan (CAAP) 2017–2021.
The figure above shows the vision and priorities of the Christchurch Alcohol Action Plan (CAAP). The vision in the centre is for a safe vibrant and healthy Christchurch free from alcohol-related harm. Four circles in the top half of the diagram show the current activity towards this goal: Problem limitation strategies including Services and Treatment; alcohol licensing; Supply control strategies and advocacy; and Demand reduction strategies including education and social marketing. The three priorites of the CAAP are shown in the bottom half of the diagram:
- Collaborate, coordinate, communicate;
- Reduce exposure, accessibility and availability; and
- Create safer spaces.
Hapūtanga: How alcohol affects your baby
Being alcohol free is best for you and pēpi. Do not drink alcohol if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or are trying to get pregnant.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is estimated to affect up to 3,000 babies born each year in New Zealand.
Two out of every five babies born each year in New Zealand are a result of an unplanned pregnancy. Approximately half of women drink alcohol in early pregnancy before they know they are pregnant – inadvertently exposing their developing baby to risk.
Your baby can be affected at any stage of a pregnancy – from before you know you are hapū, till the very end when pēpi is born. Drinking any alcohol while pregnant increases the risk of miscarriage, still births, preterm birth, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy:
- All alcohol can harm pēpi, including low-alcoholic drinks; and
- Any amount of alcohol can harm your baby.
- Watch a video on giving your baby the best start in life by stopping drinking alcohol (Vimeo – Counties Manukau Health).
- Find out more about the effects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy (Health NZ).
- Download or read a Health NZ resource on alcohol and pregnancy.
- Find out more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Amohia Te Waiora).
- Find out more about the effects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Alcohol regulation and licensing in the community
Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health works to:
Ensure premises selling or wanting to sell alcohol meet licensing requirements by investigating and reporting on applications on behalf of the Medical Officer of Health; and- Encourage the responsible sale, supply, consumption and promotion of alcohol in premises.
- Collaborate with other agencies to ensure regular monitoring of high risk licensed premises.
- Support the alcohol industry to be compliant with legislation through appropriate procedures and regular training and appraisal.
Community-based alcohol-related work
Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health works to:
- Ensure that key law and policy makers have appropriate information to consider when making decisions;
- Support community awareness of local alcohol license applications and options to get involved;
- Inform the public about the effects of alcohol use and misuse including targeted programmes for at risk groups;
- Promote host responsibility and alcohol related programmes in workplaces;
- Support sports clubs to develop alcohol policies; and
- Support supply control and reduction initiatives such as the Good One Party Register for youth.
Find out how you can take action on alcohol in your community, such as:
- objecting to an alcohol licence;
- complaining about an alcohol advertisement;
- monitoring alcohol promotions in your community; and
- influencing your local alcohol policy.
Developing regional policies and strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm
Community and Public Health has worked alongside contributing partners across the Canterbury Clinical Network to develop a Canterbury Health System Alcohol-related Harm Reduction Strategy. This strategy was launched in May 2019 and work to implement it will continue to be facilitated by the Canterbury Clinical Network.
Source: Canterbury Health System Alcohol-related Harm Reduction Strategy 2018-2023.
The figure above shows the framework of the Canterbury Health System Alcohol-related Harm Reduction Strategy. The central vision of Reduced harm from alcohol is surrounded by six values or way of working (equity, best use of resources, evidence, life-course approach, collaboration, and rangatiratanga with Māori communities). Four focus areas bubbles provide direction for the Strategy:
- Influence behaviour change and social norms;
- Promote healthy environments;
- Coordinate prevention, identifications, treatment and support; and
- Measure harm and monitor performance.
Community and Public Health worked closely with the Christchurch City Council and NZ Police on the Christchurch Alcohol Action Plan (CAAP). The plan was developed in response to community concern and sets out a vision for “a safe, vibrant, healthy Christchurch free from alcohol-related harm”.
- Read the Canterbury Health System Alcohol-related Harm Reduction Strategy.
- Learn more about the Christchurch Alcohol Action Plan (Christchurch City Council).
- Download an information sheet on recent research on alcohol-related harm [PDF].
Documents
Impacts of and Attitudes towards Alcohol
- Independent Review of the Alcohol Levy – Stage 2 (Allen + Clarke 2024).
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Diagnostic Guidelines for Aotearoa New Zealand (Health New Zealand 2024).
- Understanding alcohol and drug use among NZ Asian communities (NZ Drug Foundation 2023).
- Independent Review of the Alcohol Levy Stage 1: Rapid Review (Allen + Clarke 2023).
- Alcohol harm has no place in our culture: Pasifika Alcohol Harm Sector and Community Engagement Report (Te Whatu Ora – Health Promotion 2023).
- Socioeconomic and environmental factors associated with increased alcohol purchase and consumption in 38 Countries during the COVID-19 pandemic (Frontiers in Psychiatry 2022).
- Alcohol and mental wellbeing: An evidence summary (Health Promotion Agency 2021).
- Alcohol Use in New Zealand Survey (AUiNZ) 2019/20 – High-level results (Health Promotion Agency 2021).
- Alcohol and Pregnancy: Evidence Summary (Health Promotion Agency 2019).
- Alcohol-related attitudes: Results from the 2018 Health and Lifestyles Survey infographic (Health Promotion Agency 2019).
- Drinking cultures of Rainbow New Zealanders (Health Promotion Agency 2019).
- New Zealanders’ alcohol consumption patterns across the lifespan (Massey University and the University of Auckland 2018).
- The drinking patterns of older New Zealanders: National and international Comparisons (Health Promotion Agency 2017).
- Attitudes to drinking in pregnancy (Health Promotion Agency 2017).
- Alcohol Use 2012/13: New Zealand Health Survey (Ministry of Health 2015).
- Our Stories: The impact of alcohol on individuals and families from some of NZ’s less often heard community voices (Health Promotion Agency 2014).
- Alcohol use in advanced age: Findings from LiLACS NZ (University of Auckland 2014).
- South Island DHBs Position Statement on Alcohol (Canterbury DHB 2012).
- Background paper on the South Island DHBs Position Statement on Alcohol (Canterbury DHB 2012).
- Position Statement on Alcohol Law Reform (Canterbury DHB 2010).
Impacts of and Attitudes towards Alcohol on Youth
- Less drinking, less harm: Declines in adolescent alcohol use are accompanied by declines in self-reported alcohol harm (Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Science 2023).
- Attitudes and behaviours on supplying alcohol to under 18s (Te Whatu Ora Health Promotion 2023).
- Social supply of alcohol to under 18s (Te Whatu Ora Health Promotion 2023).
- Youth’19 Understanding and addressing alcohol harm among Rainbow young people fact sheet (University of Auckland 2022).
- Youth’19 Understanding and addressing alcohol harm among rangatahi Māori fact sheet (University of Auckland 2022).
- Youth’19 Sources of alcohol and harm among secondary students fact sheet (University of Auckland 2022).
- Youth’19 Alcohol harm among secondary school students fact sheet (University of Auckland 2022).
- Youth’19 Drinking patterns among school students fact sheet (University of Auckland 2022).
- Changes and influences on adolescent drinking in New Zealand (Health Promotion Agency 2020).
- Understanding alcohol use and subsequent harms in young people: An evidence summary (Health Promotion Agency 2020).
- Alcohol use by West Coast young people: A survey of young people’s and adults’ views (Community and Public Health 2017).
Alcohol in the Community
- Costs of alcohol harms in New Zealand: Updating the evidence with recent research (New Zealand Institute of Economic Research for the Ministry of Health 2024).
- Te Tiriti o Waitangi and alcohol law: How Te Tiriti o Waitangi could be given appropriate effect in alcohol law and why it is important to do so (Health Promotion Agency 2022).
- National Alcohol Harm Minimisation Framework (Health Promotion Agency 2022).
- Monitoring alcohol affordability in Aotearoa New Zealand: 2020 update (Health Promotion Agency 2021).
- Public attitudes on policy interventions to reduce alcohol harm: Results from the 2019/20 Alcohol Use in New Zealand Survey (Health Promotion Agency 2021).
- The relationship between alcohol outlets and harm (Health Promotion Agency 2019).
- Impacts of local alcohol policies: Analysis of changes in spending at venues selling alcohol (Health Promotion Agency 2019).
- Evaluation of the Community Engagement with Alcohol Licensing Project (Community and Public Health 2019).
- Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012: Community Experience Survey (Health Promotion Agency 2018).
- Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012: Early Experience with Six Local Alcohol Policies (Health Promotion Agency 2018).
- Post-earthquake analysis of crime and alcohol outlets in Christchurch (Health Promotion Agency 2018).
- Guidelines for the development of Alcohol Accords (Health Promotion Agency 2015).
Downloads
Download or order alcohol resources from the Community Health Information Centre.
- Alcohol and pregnancy: What you might not know (Te Whatu Ora).
- Alcohol and You: Facts and Effects (Te Whatu Ora).
- The Straight-up guide to standard drinks (Te Whatu Ora).
- Is your drinking okay? (Te Whatu Ora).
Links
- Amohia Te Waiora | We’re stronger without alcohol – formerly Alcohol.org.nz (Health Promotion Agency).
- Alcohol Healthwatch.
- Mrs D is going without – online community helping people struggling with their alcohol use.
- Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD).
- New Zealand Drug Foundation.
Contact your local office for further information:
CANTERBURY, MID CANTERBURY AND CHATHAM ISLANDS
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
SOUTH CANTERBURY
Ph: +64 3 687 2600
WEST COAST
Ph: +64 3 768 1160
For additional information, contact:
Alcohol and Drug Helpline
0800 787 797 (10am -10pm)
Alcohol and Drug Youth Helpline
0800 787 984 (10am -10pm)
Text adh to 234
CANTERBURY
Community Alcohol and Drug Service (Health NZ Canterbury)
Ph: +64 3 335 4350
MID CANTERBURY
Ashburton Community Alcohol and Drug Service (ACADS)
Ph: +64 3 308 1270
SOUTH CANTERBURY
Alcohol and Other Drug Service (Health NZ South Canterbury)
Ph: +64 22 000 7628
WEST COAST
Rata Alcohol and Drug Services – Adult (Health NZ West Coast)
Ph: +64 3 788 9234 in Buller
Ph: +64 3 769 7805 in Greymouth
Ph: +64 3 756 9700 in Hokitika
Youth Alcohol and Drug Service (CAMHS – Health NZ West Coast)
Ph: +64 3 769 7670
Ngā Kaupapa Here: School Alcohol Policies
A comprehensive school alcohol policy means everyone is clear about the use of alcohol on your premises or at school events, and how to respond to alcohol-related incidents.
This new guide offers all kura/ schools clear information for developing an alcohol policy. It includes reasons to develop a policy, the steps to take, consultation questions, topics to cover, legislation, and where to get support.
- Order your copy of Ngā Kaupapa Here: School Alcohol Policies.
- Download a copy of Ngā Kaupapa Here: School Alcohol Policies – if you are outside our geographical area.
If you’re having a party, have a Good One!
The “Good One” campaign is a Canterbury party register designed for use by students. You can find out how to be a responsible party host and register your party with the Police.
The project aims to reduce alcohol related incidents and harm, increase access and distribution of information to enable people to self-manage parties, and reduce disorderly behaviour.
The Canterbury DHB has developed this initiative alongside partners such as NZ Police, Health Promotion Agency, University of Canterbury including UCSA, Lincoln University including LUSA and the Christchurch City Council.
