Media Centre

Christmas is a time for enjoyment, but it can also be a time of increased stress within families and among friends.

Existing conflicts between people can be brought to a head under the strain of emotional and financialworries resulting in arguments and escalating tension, as well as alcohol misuse.

The Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) is reminding pregnant women and those women planning to become pregnant to avoid all alcohol. The advice comes on the eve of World Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASDFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Consuming alcohol while pregnant may cause significant abnormalities in the unborn, developing baby (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder). Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, who were exposed to alcohol while in the womb, can have a range of problems including poor growth/small size, facial abnormalities, heart defects, brain damage, developmental delay and social, emotional, behavioural and mental deficits.) awareness day (9 September).

“Drinking at any time during pregnancy may affect the normal development of the fetus,” says ALAC Early Intervention Manager Sue Paton. “If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, the best advice is to avoid alcohol. 

It’s irresponsible for a superette to rely on a 15-year-old employee to make judgement calls round the sale of alcohol to teenagers, says Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) Environments and Settings manager Andrew Galloway.

Mr Galloway was commenting on a Controlled Purchase Operation (CPO) in the Kapiti/Otaki area last weekend where a 15-year-old employee of a superette sold alcohol twice to CPO volunteers.

Māori health leader Matiu Julian (Nga Ruahine, Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi, Ngati Tu Mango) has been appointed to the national position of Pouarahi Māori, or Māori Manager, at the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC).

Mr Julian has been working for the last six years in a senior role with Tui Ora – a Māori development organisation within the health and social service sector in Taranaki – and has extensive experience working collaboratively with communities and service providers as well as with national and local government agencies.

The Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) has commissioned a feasibility study to examine whether sufficient data exists to conduct a full research study into Queenstown’s licensing hours and any correlation they may with alcohol-related harm.

ALAC General Manager Strategy Dr Andrew Hearn said overseas research showed longer licensing hours lead to greater alcohol-related harm. However, there was little New Zealand specific research.

The Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) has backed the police call for young people to help change the 'drink to get drunk' culture which is prevalent on both sides of the Tasman.

ALAC Chief Executive Officer Gerard Vaughan said this weekend’s Operation Unite - a joint exercise by Australian and New Zealand Police - was also a good opportunity for adults to consider what steps they could take to ensure young people avoid alcohol-related harm.

“We encourage everyone to look after each other around alcohol this Christmas,” says Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand (ALAC) chief executive Gerard Vaughan.

“Christmas is a time for celebration and getting together with friends and family. However, sometimes it can be ruined by too much alcohol. If you choose to offer alcohol at your home during Christmas, set the tone and make it a safe and enjoyable occasion,” he says.

“Managing the sale and availability of alcohol is the key to having a successful large event”, says ALAC’s environments and settings manager Andrew Galloway.

An innovative approach to monitoring the health risk of alcohol use for patients was outlined at the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) conference in Christchurch today (Friday September 3).