Adolescent Issue Position Paper - Consumption Of Alcohol

Adolescent Issue Position Paper - Consumption of Alcohol

The consumption and abuse of alcohol in New Zealand is often presented as an adolescent issue (rather than a widespread societal problem) by the mainstream media and the general public. Consumption of alcohol by adolescents, particularly but not exclusively those underage, is seen as dangerous behavior, a risk to both themselves and the general public.

"Alcohol, we are asked to believe, is a dangerous gift that mustn't be allowed to fall into the eager hands of minors, for fear they should become initiated too soon into its potent mysteries. (Walton, 2001)

Adolescents themselves identify the consumption of alcohol as a concern of varying degrees to themselves and their peers. I spoke with two groups of friends (one group of four year 9 girls and one group of three year 13 boys and two year 13 girls) and all agreed that they felt that consumption of alcohol was an issue for them and other teenagers. (Group of girls, 2007) (Year 13s, 2007)

For the younger group the main focus of concern was for the wider issues of drink driving, unwanted pregnancy, sexual diseases and violence - they almost sounded like an educational pamphlet! As none of them (as far as they would admit to) have ever consumed more than a glass of beer or wine under the supervision of parents, their personal knowledge and experience of alcohol was restricted to the slight light-headed feeling they themselves experienced after one drink and what behavior they have observed in older siblings, parents, other family, family friends and what they have seen on TV. When asked what the difference between adult consumption of alcohol and teenagers' consumption of alcohol (to make it an adolescent issue) the most strongly justified reason was that 'teenagers aren't as responsible as adults'. This was explained as the reason for their earlier concerns of drink driving, pregnancy etc as teenagers get drunk more easily and 'don't know what they are doing and do stupid stuff'. One of the girls older brothers friends had rolled his car after drinking heavily and had injured himself quite badly (thankfully no-one else was involved in the accident). They were all very aware of the role that alcohol had had in this accident. (Group of girls, 2007)

For the Year 13s (all 17 and therefore underage) the discussion revolved more around their personal experiences of drinking alcohol. They all had fun stories to relate and clearly enjoyed the topic of conversation. All of their parents knew that they drank alcohol and some of their parents facilitated this by purchasing alcohol for them to take to parties (this was a recent change to the parents behavior though). All of them were allowed to drink alcohol in the home environment, though usually never more than a couple of drinks, and had done so for between the last 2-5 years. When the conversation was brought around to the more 'negative' impacts of drinking alcohol they all admitted to suffering from hangovers on more than one occasion and also all admitted to being in a car driven by someone they suspected of being 'over the limit.' They also expressed concern (more particularly the girls) of 'making a dick of themselves' or 'being shamed'. The girls also mentioned that boys seemed more immature when they had been drinking and also 'annoyed' them more (unwanted advances). When I asked them if alcohol was an issue for teenagers they all thought is was. The biggest concerns for this group were about the age restriction for buying and consumption of alcohol (and getting caught by police - parents weren't a concern in this regard), changes in their behavior (positive and negative) while intoxicated and keeping safe. Obviously the age restriction legislation is the most apparent concern making alcohol an adolescent issue specific for this group. However the group also said they felt their behavior was more scrutinized than older people. 'Oldies get away with more... nobody says anything on Saint Patrick's Day when there are heaps of pissed oldies about who can hardly stand up - if they were all young there would be big trouble!' (Year 13s, 2007)

The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) has different concerns with youth consumption of alcohol. Table One below sets out a policy that addresses the correlation (as shown in Table Two, over page) between the age someone starts drinking and the potential for alcohol dependence and abuse.

Table One: Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand Policy Statement 4: Onset of Alcohol Consumption

ALAC'S POLICY

The earlier people start regular social drinking, the more likely they are to have alcohol dependence or abuse problems later in life.

A change to New Zealand's drinking culture so that New Zealanders delay regular unsupervised social drinking until at least the age of 15 years in encouraged.

(Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, 2002)

ALAC also states that, in the short term, people who begin drinking in their teenage years "are more likely to experience unintentional alcohol related injuries (such as vehicle injuries, falls and burns) and to experience a higher level of alcohol misuse at ages 17 and 18 than those who start to drink alcohol later in life." (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, 2002)

Table Two: Correlation between Age of Drinking Onset Potential Alcohol Dependence and Abuse

Age at which drinking started 11-12 13-14 19+

Percentage who met the criteria for diagnosis of alcohol abuse 13.5% 14% 2%

Percentage who met criteria for diagnosis of alcohol dependence 16% 9% 1%

(Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, 2002)

ALAC states that their primary objective "is the encouragement and promotion of moderation in the use of alcohol, the discouragement and reduction of the misuse of alcohol, and the minimization of the personal, social, and economic harm resulting from the misuse of alcohol. (Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, 2002) This is funded by a fixed levy on all alcohol produced for consumption in New Zealand. ALAC operates as a crown entity.

The most interesting observation I made of this policy document was that it quoted at length from studies conducted overseas, mostly the USA. I found this interesting as it repeated often in the media that New Zealand has a 'binge culture' which is a unique