Youth Drinking Culture

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What are some of the key characteristics of New Zealand’s drinking culture, and why is this culture problematic for health? Critically discuss various strategies for reducing alcohol harm. In New Zealand, drinking is a large part of our culture. People drink for many reasons; to wind down, to have fun or as a common practice when socialising. However it has recently come to be a notable trend that people are drinking more and more to become intoxicated, which more often than not results in hangovers, blackouts and vomiting. The ALAC website states binge drinking as consuming five or more standard alcoholic drinks in one session within four hours (Belcher, 2009, p. 1). This becomes a prominent issue when it affects people’s short and long term health and also creates pressing issues for the police and those managing alcohol outlets. Alcohol is also a large concern at public events like sports games and concerts where behaviour has to be monitored to avoid disruption. It is important that this distinguished habit of drinking in New Zealand, targeted towards youth, is approached appropriately by the Ministry of Health and the government, amidst help of other public organisations to prevent irreversible effects on the future population. In this essay I will be addressing the key characteristics of drinking in New Zealand and will then critically discuss the various strategies and solutions to curb excessive drinking in contemporary culture. There is a widespread acceptance of drinking as a significant part of our social life which may be why binge drinking is so heavily concentrated in university students in New Zealand. Drinking is a culturally accepted part of our society and is extremely convenient to obtain. Becoming of legal age to drink is noteworthy as people have been brought up around alcohol commonly going hand in hand with socialising. It was found that

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