N.Z.’s drinking history

Press, 13 June 1978, Page 17

N.Z.’s drinking history

Figures on alcohol consumption per head of population have been available in the New Zealand Official Yearbook since it was first published in 1892. In the first volume, consumption figures were given for the previous ten years in a form which has remained essentially the same until the present time — as gallons (or more recently litres) of beer, spirits, and wine consumed annually per head of population. For the years 1882 to 1934 inclusive, the figures were given for the whole population and for the population excluding Maoris. Without any exception, in either total amounts consumed or for the individual categories of alcoholic liquor, Maoris did not drink as much, per head of population, as the rest of the country. Fluctuations in consumption figures may be associated with special events and changing economic situations in the

country. Possible causes of some of the fluctuations are discussed in the following sections, numbered to correspond with an arrow and letter on the accompanying graph. A: The end of a long depression which had lasted about 20 years, dates from about 1895 after a banking crisis in 1894-95. From 1882 to 1895, beer and spirits were consumed in equivalent amounts, with respect to pure alcohol intake, and there was a steady fall in total consumption per head of population. From 1895, for 20 years through to the beginning of the First World War, there was growing prosperity. This was reflected in the rising mean levels of alcohol consumption. B and C: After the First World War there was a short post-war boom which burst in 1921-1922. These events are reflected in a rapid rise in per capita alcohol consumption and a dramatic fall to a minimum value in 1922.

Consumption levels did not rise again to pre-war levels during the 19205, and the next major fluctuation showed in the consumption figures for 1931. D: The Wall Street crash occurred on October 24, 1929 and, after it, exports from New Zealand fell by 40 per cent in two years. Alcohol consumption fell to the lowest value in the whole period from 1882-1976, a per head consumption of 1.43 litres of pure alcohol per annum. Consumption began to rise again by 1934 and continued to increase until 1940, the last year in which con* sumption data was available until after the Second World War. E: On May 11, 1941, beer strength was reduced by a quarter and this was restored again by the beginning of 1949. The sudden rise in alcohol intake from 1948 to 1949 is presumably due to beer consumption being maintained, but, in 1949, with

a considerably higher alcohol content. F: The so-called “Black Budget" of the Labour Government was introduced on June 26, 1958, with increased taxes on both beer and spirits. The effect of these price increases were immediate, with reduced per head consumption in 1958 figures and showing as a maximum effect for 1959. G: Another tax on alcoholic liquor was included in the Budget presented by Mr Muldoon on May 4, 1967, but, in this case, it was confined to spirits. The per head consumption graph for beer showed no reduction whereas the spirits intake was markedly affected. H: On October 9. 1967, 10 o’clock closing was in* troduced and ended 50 years of closing at 6 pan. The earlier closing time had been introduced in 191 as a war measure. After the introduction of 10 o’clock closing, alcohol consumption per head of population has shown the largest sustained increase since official records have been available in the Yearbooks. The most marked rises have been in spirits and wine consumption which have more than compensated for a lessening in the increase in rates for beer consumption. Although the 1976 total figures have not maintained the percentage increases of the previous six years, the per capita consumption is still increasing in a period of economic difficulties for the country.

A major contributing factor to the recent rapid rises in consumption may well be due to the introduction of evening entertainment in hotels.

Such changes could account for the rising incidence of alcohol problems among the younger age groups in New Zealand.

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN NEW ZEALAND

PROFESSOR R. D. BATT, Alcohol Research Unit, Massey University