Number of alcoholic drinks and time spent drinking on last occasion: 2014/15 ABAS: In Fact

The pattern of drinking alcohol on an occasion (how much a person drinks and how fast) is related to the level of intoxication, and the risk of injury (National Health and Medical Research Council, 2009). Low-risk alcohol drinking advice for adults on a single occasion is no more than four standard drinks for women and no more than five standard drinks for men (Health Promotion Agency, 2015). The Health Promotion Agency’s (HPA) Attitudes and Behaviour towards Alcohol Survey (ABAS) provides information on New Zealanders’ use of, behaviour, and attitudes towards, alcohol, focusing on use within the last month, and the last drinking occasion. This fact sheet reports on the number of alcoholic drinks consumed and the length of time spent drinking on the last drinking occasion involving two or more alcoholic drinks by adults aged 18 years and older.