Insight

Drinking patterns are largely stable across the lifespan

21 Feb 2019

About this data

This data is taken from HPA's research report New Zealanders’ alcohol consumption patterns across the lifespan.

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Research has shown New Zealanders' drinking patterns are largely stable across peoples’ lifespan, with long periods of hazardous or non-hazardous drinking. Going from non-hazardous to hazardous drinking or vice versa was usually triggered by a single event such as unemployment, relationship breakdown or developing a chronic health condition.

Change from hazardous to non-hazardous drinking (or vice versa) was uncommon, and when it did occur, further transitions were unlikely. Unemployment between ages 20 and 40 and loss of a relationship between ages 30 and 50 increased the risk of changing from a non-hazardous to a hazardous drinker. Conversely, developing a chronic health condition before 50 years of age increased the likelihood of transitioning from hazardous to non-hazardous consumption.