Young men

18 – 24 year old men are drinking more heavily than any other group

If you're aged 18 to 24 and you enjoy a drink, that's fine. But there's a big difference between responsible drinking and drinking in a harmful way. Although no one can claim that drinking at this age has positive health benefits, sticking to the guidelines below probably won't do you any harm.

The NZ Government advises that most men can drink up to six units a day without harming their health. Remember to avoid alcohol completely if you're driving, doing sports, working at a height or operating machinery. And never mix alcohol with drugs - you're taking your life in your hands if you do.

The good news is that most of you drink responsibly. The bad news is that this 18-24 year old male group drinks the most, and has the highest risk of alcohol-related injuries and accidents. It's also the group most likely to be involved in traffic casualties.

Remember, the police impose tough penalties on drink drivers in New Zealand. If you're under 20 and caught over the limit you face disqualification of three months or more and a possible fine of up to $2,250 and/or up to three months in prison. And if you kill someone while driving over the limit, you're looking at anything up to a $20,000 fine and/ or up to five years in prison.

Binge drinking

There's no absolute agreement on the definition of a "binge". But keeping it simple, binge-drinking is when you drink a lot more than usual on any one occasion. Remember, for most men the risk of harm begins to rise after consuming six standard drinks. Click here to find out how many units you're drinking.

There's been a lot of media coverage about binge drinking recently. Here are some of the facts about young men's drinking.

• 52% of men aged 18 – 24 drank more than seven standard drinks in one session during the past month
• 39% of men aged 18 – 24 exceeded the legal blood alcohol limit on a weekly basis
• 36% of men aged 18-24 could not remember events after periods of heavy drinking

Some 18-24 year olds consider binge drinking not just normal, but actively cool. The reality is; it's neither.

Possible consequences of drinking too much include:

• Increased risk of fights and arguments, which could lead to trouble with the police and/or hospitalisation
• Alcoholic poisoning, leading to coma and even death
• Sexual risks leading to sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV
• Sexual difficulties, such as temporary impotence
• Relationship difficulties
• Headaches and hangovers

For tips on how to enjoy yourself without overdoing it click here.