“Recently released regional alcohol data from the NZ Health Survey demonstrates a sustained positive shift in our nation’s drinking culture. Responsible drinking rates have improved across all 16 regional councils, with encouraging gains among younger New Zealanders,” said NZABC Executive Director Virginia Nicholls.

This regional data compares the earliest period 2016/17 – with the latest period 2024/25 using a three-year rolling average [1] [2]. This shows responsible drinking [3] nationwide increased from 80% to 83.6%, a 3.6% improvement.

“Over the past 9 years improvements in responsible drinking have occurred across all regions, but at different rates. This is why local, targeted action to reduce alcohol harm is more effective than broad, one-size-fits-all regulatory intervention,” said Virginia.

Individual regions [4]:
The Tasman Region has the highest responsible drinking rate in the country at 88%, while Auckland follows closely at 87%, West Coast 85.7% and Marlborough 85.4%.

Taranaki stands out, recording a remarkable 12 percentage point increase in responsible drinking from 72.2% to 84.2% – the largest improvement of any region.

The Gisborne Region, despite having the lowest responsible drinking rate of 75.6%, showed strong improvement with a 7.9 percentage point increase. However, they have the highest hazardous drinking rate in the country. Other regions that have more than 20% hazardous drinking include Hawke’s Bay, Otago and Southland.

Education:
An industry poll [5] found support for targeted education and intervention: 67% of Kiwis say education in schools reduces alcohol-related harm, 42% support alcohol education programmes in workplaces, and 73% support targeted programmes for harmful drinkers.

Age group trends [6]:
Younger Kiwis are driving the shift toward responsible drinking. Over the past 9 years, 15-24 year olds recorded the strongest improvement of any age group, rising nearly 7 percentage points to 81.0%. Adults (25-44 years) also showed solid gains of 4-5 percentage points, while Kiwis 55+ maintained their responsible drinking rates of 84.8% – 96%.

Demographic patterns [7]:
The data shows responsible drinking is improving across all demographic groups. Women remain more likely than men to drink responsibly (89% versus 78%). Asian people have the highest responsible drinking rate at nearly 95%, followed by European 82.1% and Pacific Peoples 81.4%. Māori recorded a strong improvement +5.4% points, however have the lowest responsible drinking rate 72.7%.

Past year drinkers:
Past year adult drinking rates declined from 79.8% to 75.8%, with fewer Kiwis consuming beer, wine and spirits.

“The reduction in alcohol related harm across many regions show that targeted, local interventions can work — including education in schools and workplaces, and support programmes for harmful drinkers,” said Virginia.

References:

[1] The New Zealand Health Survey (15+) has recently released (April 2026) regional data for the total population, by geography, by demographic group, and for geographic- demographic combinations. Health NZ survey data comparing 2016/17-2018/19 to 2022/23-2024/25.

The Health Survey provides information about the health and wellbeing of adults and children in New Zealand. These data tables present key health indicators from all years of the continuous Health Survey, using a three-year rolling average. Statistics are updated annually to reflect the latest survey data.

Results are available for adults and children and are grouped by health topic. Data is provided for a range of geographic areas: health region, district health board (DHB), regional councils, iwi Māori partnership board (IMPB), and Geographic Classification for Health (GCH). Within these areas, results are broken down by gender, age, ethnic group, disability status, and neighbourhood deprivation.

NZ Health Survey [November 2025 and regional data April 2026]. URL: https://www.health.govt.nz/publications/regional-data-release-new-zealand-health-survey/ (Accessed 4 May 2026). In this NZ Health Survey regional data spreadsheet, there are more than 133,000 lines of data, which have been analysed with the help of copilot.

[2] The NZ regional councils include: Auckland region, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington and West Coast regions. Health NZ survey data comparing 2016/17-2018/19 to 2022/23-2024/25.

[3] NZ Health Survey [November 2025 and regional data April 2026] – all population responsible vs hazardous drinkers (2016 – 2025):

[4] NZ Health Survey [November 2025 and regional data April 2026] – Responsible drinkers by Regional Council:
Age Standardised – Comparing 2016/17-18/19 to 2022/23-24/25

[5] Curia Market Research, 1000 respondents, October 2025. The survey is undertaken for NZABC.

[6] NZ Health Survey [November 2025 and regional data April 2026 Responsible drinkers by age group (2016 – 2025)

[7] NZ Health Survey [November 2025 and regional data April 2026] regional councils – demographic responsible drinkers (accessed May 2026)