Home bingeing link to easy availability

Photo / Dean Purcell

The levels of binge drinking and alcohol-related harm increases with the numbers of liquor outlets within easy walking distance of residential homes, an Otago University study has found.

The results of the study of nearly 2000 people, which is the first of its kind in New Zealand, have just been published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Since 1990, the number of licensed premises has more than doubled, from 6295 to 14,183 in June last year.

The researchers found that people with more off-licences close to their home were more likely to be binge drinkers.

As well as this, for each type of outlet (bars/pubs, clubs, restaurants and off-licences), there was a clear association between the number of outlets and the level of harm due to drinking reported by people living within one kilometre.

The types of harm surveyed included effects on performance at work, on relationships, on physical health and finances.

"With each extra off-licence alcohol outlet within 1km, the odds of binge drinking increased by about 4 per cent," said the study's lead author, Professor Jennie Connor of the department of preventive and social medicine .

"This is an important finding considering that national alcohol policies are currently under review.

"We need to rethink the ease of obtaining liquor licences and how many alcohol outlets are appropriate," Professor Connor said.

- NZPA