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Women who have faced a struggle with alcohol say they started drinking young and kept drinking, because it is "socially acceptable" and increases confidence.
A 31-year-old recovered alcoholic from Auckland, L*, said she was unable to drink socially. "When I drink, I drink all the time. I can't stop." She started drinking when she was 12 and was in Alcoholics Anonymous treatment by 21 - she has been sober ever since.
She said that in 10 years of AA meetings, she had seen many young people seeking help with alcohol problems and addictions. She said young women who went had tales of "ending up violent, not being able to work, ending up taking drugs and medication - just really losing themselves".
"It's more socially acceptable," she said, "but unfortunately, the long-term consequences are going to be terrible ... it's so cool, that's how they advertise it [but] then there's the reality of alcohol."
Another former alcoholic, 22-year-old S*, has been sober for three years and 10 months. She was in treatment at 18, after starting to drink regularly at 13. "It was always drinking to blackout, and I couldn't remember what happened."
S said young people were often slow to realise they had a problem, and the tolerance of drinking made it harder for them to see they needed help. "Probably one of the main reasons I drank was because it made me feel good, it made me feel confident," she said.
"I guess that could be a contributing factor - girls' confidence levels.
"There's a lot of insecurity; [drinking] makes you feel more comfortable."
*These women wished to remain anonymous.
