Drink-crash research unfortunate case of 'we told you so'

Research linking the lowered alcohol buying age to an increase in teenage car smashes is an unfortunate case of "we told you so", the Drug Foundation says.

Alcohol was linked to "significantly more" vehicle crashes among 15 to 19-year-olds since the law was changed in 1999 to allow 18-year-olds to buy booze, the American Journal of Public Health says in an article, details of which are published today.

The study, which analysed traffic and hospital data, found crash rates since 1999 had increased by 12 per cent for young men aged 18-19, and by 14 per cent for boys aged 15-17, when compared with the figures for those aged 20-24, which decreased.

Alarmingly, it also showed crash rates have risen by 51 per cent for females aged 18-19 and by 24 per cent for those 15-17, compared with older women.

Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said the research was more proof that it was time for the '99 law change to be reversed, in conjunction with other measures such as raising the alcohol tax.

"There was tonnes of evidence back in '99 and, unfortunately, we've had six years to show that it was failed," Mr Bell said.

"We know that now, 18 and 19-year-old males are the heaviest drinkers in this country, that young women are catching up to that and that the age that people have their first drink has trickled down.

"We warned against that and it has happened and it's an unfortunate case of 'we told you so'."

Drink-driving deaths had fallen throughout the population, except among young people, Mr Bell said. He believed it was clear that the lowered alcohol purchasing age had led to that statistic.

In the US, states that lowered the alcohol purchasing age and then raised it again noticed a corresponding increase and then decrease in drink-driving deaths.

"We think that there's enough evidence for this new Parliament...to get serious and tackle the age, and other issues like tax and advertising and decision-making," Mr Bell said.

But Beer Wine and Spirits Council chief executive Nicki Stewart said the '99 law change could not be "100 per cent linked" to increased teen crashes.

It was also important to realise that raising the purchasing age again would not stop young people drinking.

"We would prefer to see 18 and 19-year-olds drinking in supervised areas," Ms Stewart said.

"As far as young people drinking more goes, you have to look at who is supplying. It's not in your supervised areas as much as it is by parents and friends, so whatever you want to say has increased or decreased since the age was lowered, you can't blame them purchasing in supervised areas."

Parliament's law and order select committee is considering the Sale of Liquor (Youth Alcohol Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill, which seeks to raise the drinking age from 18 to 20 years and strengthen provisions covering the supply of liquor to minors.

Hospitality Association of New Zealand chief executive Bruce Robertson said increased crashes could not be blamed solely on lowering the purchasing age; the past few years had seen increased car ownership among young people.

That had led to a "phenomena" of young people driving more, Mr Robertson said.

As well, four Ministry of Justice reports which considered all research on the issue showed the lower age had not harmed young people.

Binge drinking was a problem for some people, especially young men, but simply raising the purchasing age would not fix the problem, he said.

- NZPA