Research has found that alcohol increases aggression more than any other psychoactive substance, and thus the risk of violence, writes Rebecca Williams.

Some New Zealanders are downright idiots when they drink. From couch burning to drunken brawls to smashing bottles in the streets, writes Jenesa Jeram.

Having the "booze talk" with kids before they take their first sip of alcohol is crucial - and that moment comes earlier than adults might expect.

Bars will be allowed to open for every Rugby World Cup game - not just All Blacks matches - under a new bill that passed in Parliament last night.

Before last week, we had a bunch of laws that attempted to mitigate just some of the harmful effects of free and easy alcohol purchasing and consumption.

What a bunch of anti-fun wowsers the Greens are for blocking a bill to allow pubs to remain open during the World Cup, writes Mike Hosking.

Cathy Casey of the Eden Park Community Liaison Group looks at the importation of alcohol sachets which can be hidden and taken into concerts and sports events.

Some punters anxious to avoid penalties under the new drink-drive limits are expected to acquire a taste for lower-alcohol tipples.

A man suffered a heart attack and died after a heavy drinking session during which he had a bucket of ice poured over his head as part of a social media game.

Actor Jono Kenyon reveals the painful family secret behind his decision to join thousands around the country going without alcohol this month.

I'm sure a number of you have been tapped up by earnest, clear-eyed friends who've pledged to go "dry" for July as a fundraising initiative to help adults with cancer.

The wife of TVNZ's political editor Corin Dann will front the network's Sunday programme tonight to talk about her battle with alcoholism.

A two-year ban on new liquor stores in Auckland's CBD is being proposed by the council in its newly released draft alcohol policy.

A travel insurer has warned tourists about the risk of drinking arak, a locally made alcohol in Bali.

Police are having success getting young drunks off the streets as new liquor laws make an impact on the country's late-night drinking culture.

Lowering the alcohol purchase age has been linked to a long-term increase in the chance of drunk drivers aged 18 or 19 being involved in car crashes that cause death or injury.

CYF is investigating a video in which a boy, 6, is seen sculling from a Heineken bottle as part of a Neknominate dare.

Police say they are appalled that adults supplied a young boy with alcohol and concerned he was re-victimised when footage of his antics was posted on YouTube.

Stadium officials will be on the lookout for pocket-sized sachets of alcohol they say will be easy to smuggle into sporting events.

Police are calling the first weekend under new alcohol laws a success, but Hospitality New Zealand says large crowds on the streets at 4am will need ongoing monitoring.

Police in Otago have already utilised new powers aimed at curbing alcohol-related disorder, with at least three people in the region given infringement notices for breaching alcohol bans.

Sachets of alcohol designed to be slipped discreetly into purses and pockets are being sold in liquor stores, alarming police and alcohol-watch groups.

New alcohol laws have had a promising start with a quiet night reported on the last Friday before Christmas.

It's 3am on Thursday in central Auckland and a young woman, pale and unaware of her surroundings, clutches her bag of McDonald's tightly.

Comedian Guy Williams is used to being the sober one at a party. He has never drunk alcohol, except the occasional beer and he's one of the ambassadors for Hello Sunday Morning.

Police in central Auckland issued a handful of infringement notices early yesterday morning as sweeping new alcohol laws came into effect.

A funny portrayal of a "cool dad" in a television ad about under-18s drinking has won praise for challenging parents' thinking on how they should behave at young people's parties.

A new study has shown that a major contributor to alcohol-related harm among underage drinkers is their older mates supplying them with large amounts of booze.