Young People and Alcohol: Some Statistics on Possible Effects of Lowering the Drinking Age

• NCJ Number: 198429
• Author(s): Barb Lash
• Date Published: October 2002
• Length: 39 pages
• Corporate Author: New Zealand Ministry of Justice
• Sale Source: New Zealand Ministry of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: New Zealand
• Note: Downloaded December 30, 2002.

Annotation

This report presents updated data (up to 2001 for most indicators) pertinent to the possible effects of lowering New Zealand's legal minimum drinking age from 20 years old to 18 years old.

Abstract

New Zealand's Sale of Liquor Amendment Act 1999, which took effect on December 1, 1999, lowered the legal minimum drinking age from 20 years to 18 years. Further, under this law, some offenses that involve minors became "infringement" offenses, under which the person may either be prosecuted through the court system or be issued an infringement notice. The data presented in this report cover the years 1995 through 2001 for most of the variables measured. The statistics presented are mostly limited to those routinely collected nationwide. Although the statistics provided do not explicitly measure the impact of lowering the minimum legal drinking age, they are indicators of the possible impact. Changes in indicator levels over time may be due to other factors, such as changes in police practices. At best, statistical information was available only for 2 years following the change in the law. The data address the drinking behavior of young New Zealanders; indicators of alcohol-related offending by minors; indicators of alcohol-related offending by minors and all ages (disorderly behavior); indicators of age-verification practices; health indicators of alcohol-related harm for minors and all ages; and educational indicators of alcohol-related harm to minors. The report concludes that the statistics presented show a mixed and partial picture of the possible impact of lowering the drinking age. The data on the indicators suggest diverse trends with no clear evidence as to whether the legislation has had a deterrent effect on young people's drinking behavior. Further, the time frame since the implementation of the legislation is too short for conclusive analysis of the impact of lowering the drinking age. In addition, other kinds of data are needed to better assess the impact of lowering the drinking age. 16 tables, 8 figures, and 11 references