The Government is reviewing New Zealand’s liquor laws to achieve equilibrium between the social and commercial benefits of responsible alcohol use and alcohol-related harm.
This report provides some initial evidence and insights into this topic to help SPARC make an informed contribution to the Government’s work on alcohol regulation, and help SPARC effectively advise and lead the sporting sector through the regulatory reform and beyond.
The approach adopted involved:
- a review of selected literature
- interviews with selected key agencies involved in monitoring and moderating the harmful use of alcohol
- interviews with selected National Sports Organisations (NSOs) and sports clubs
- an analysis of liquor licence data and data from New Zealand Police relating to offences in which alcohol was involved
- an on-line survey of sports clubs.
The study focused on six sports: rugby, rugby league, softball, netball, bowls and cricket. The sports include the main codes, winter and summer sports, and sports that appeal to different age groups and males and females.