The Youth Insights Survey monitors Year 10 students’ behaviours, attitudes, and knowledge on a range of health-related topics, including alcohol consumption. This brief report presents key findings on Year 10 students’ alcohol consumption based on data from the 2018 Youth Insights Survey. It presents patterns of alcohol consumption (including heavy episodic drinking) for 14 to 15-year-old Year 10 students; looks at the factors that influence whether or not students drink heavily; and shows changes in alcohol consumption from 2012 to 2018.

Key findings

• In 2018, the majority of 14 to 15-year-old Year 10 students (69%) did not drink alcohol. However, 6% said they consumed alcohol weekly 
• Asian and Pasifika Year 10 students were less likely to consume alcohol in 2018, compared to Māori and New Zealand European/Other students 
• In 2018, Year 10 students who drank alcohol typically did so at home
• Fewer Year 10 students reported drinking alcohol in 2018 compared to 2012, and those who did drink did so less frequently
• Over time there was also a decrease in the number of Year 10 students engaging in heavy episodic drinking (five or more drinks in one session)
• 12% of Year 10 students had engaged in heavy episodic drinking in the past month in 2018
• Māori Year 10 students were more likely to have engaged in heavy episodic drinking than NZ European/Other, Pasifika and Asian students.