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Alcohol-related harm in Auckland still a concern
21 November 2016
Media release – Auckland’s Action on Alcohol Plan’s Executive Planning Group
Snapshot reveals alcohol-related harm in Auckland still a concern
The latest report on alcohol-related harm in Auckland shows the city has higher rates than the rest of the country in two of three indicators measured.
The 2015 Snapshot (attached) was released today by the Executive Planning Group who oversee the implementation of Auckland’s Action on Alcohol Plan.
Rates of wholly alcohol-attributable hospitalisations in Auckland were 7 percent higher than the rest of New Zealand.
For some age groups the rates were substantially higher than the rest of the country: for example 33 percent higher for Aucklanders aged 45-49 years and 107 percent higher for those aged 60-64 years.
Rates of late night assaults, 75 percent of which are thought to be alcohol-related, were also elevated in Auckland. These were 21 percent higher in Auckland than in the rest of the country.
Alcohol-involved crashes was the only indicator demonstrating a lower rate. In 2015 rates in Auckland were 2 percent lower than the rest of country.
While 20-24-year-olds are more likely to be involved in an alcohol-related crash in Auckland, the rate of their involvement in these crashes was 19 percent lower than the rest of the county.
The Group’s chair, Rebecca Williams of Alcohol Healthwatch, says that a previous report showed Auckland also has higher rates of heavy per occasion consumption.
Williams says that while it is very concerning to see higher levels of alcohol-related harm in Auckland, the plan includes a range of actions aimed at addressing these harms.
She says one of the objectives of the Action on Alcohol Plan is to improve monitoring and reporting on alcohol-related harm and evaluate progress over time. The Snapshot forms part of this activity.
The Executive Planning Group has also commissioned a report looking at a range of alcohol-related harm indicators over time. This is expected to be available in the next few weeks.
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