HealthInfo Canterbury
Alcohol use in teens & young adults
Alcohol is a powerful, addictive drug. It may well be the first drug you come into contact with, either at home or when you are out with your friends. Access to alcohol is easy, and it's cheap and legal if you are 18 or older.
People may drink alcohol for a few different reasons. Maybe their friends are drinking it, they want to prove they're grown up, or they just want to push the boundaries. Sometimes people think drinking alcohol might solve problems with family, friends or themselves.
Drinking alcohol is associated with a wide range of health problems. Alcohol affects the brain and how it works, and the effects on a teenager's developing brain are different than on an adult brain. It can affect your long-term thinking and memory. You may also be more likely to get addicted to alcohol.
Knowing the facts about alcohol can help you make good decisions about whether to drink and, if you do, how much. Experts say if you are younger than 18 it's safest not to drink it. If you drink alcohol when you are younger than 15 you're at greatest risk of some of the harmful things that can happen with alcohol.
Drinking when you're a teenager increases your risk of:
- physical injury
- sexual assault
- violence
- taking sexual risks, including having multiple partners and unprotected sex
- mental health disorders
- committing crimes
- motor vehicle accidents, resulting in injuries and death.
The best way to avoid the bad things that can happen with alcohol is not to drink it at all. If you do decide to drink, it's important to know how to keep yourself safe, and make sure you and your friends look out for each other.
Phone and helplines
If they prefer to talk to someone anonymously, or you are worried that someone else may have a drinking problem, try one of these helplines for advice and support:
Youthline Alcohol Drug Youth Helpline
Youthline is an organisation that works with young people, providing a number of services.
Freephone 0800‑376-633 (any time) or free txt 234 to speak to a counsellor.
You can also chat online using the webchat between 10 am and 10 pm, 7 days a week.
Email any time. Counsellors aim to respond to emails within 24 hours.
Alcohol Drug Youth Helpline
The Youth Helpline has dedicated people experienced in working through issues with young people. They offer free, confidential support and guidance.
Freephone 0800‑787‑YTH (0800‑787‑984), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Free TXT 8681 and a counsellor will txt you back for a confidential conversation
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Alcohol Drug Helpline
This site, from New Zealand's Alcohol and Drug Foundation, had lots of information including an A-Z of drug and alcohol information, specific support for young people, stories, FAQs, advice if you or someone else has a problem, and tests to check if you're at risk of drug or alcohol harm.
- Ask Aunty Dee
Aunty Dee can help you solve problems with issues like bullying, depression, drinking, grief and sex. The website is designed for young Pasifika people, but it can help all rangatahi.
- Youthhealthtalk.org – Drugs and alcohol
Video interviews with young people about their experiences and opinions of drugs and alcohol. This is a British site, so some of the services they talk about might not be available in New Zealand.
- Youthline.co.nz – Alcohol
This page includes articles about alcohol, binge drinking, drink driving, safety information, what to do if someone has passed out, and where to get help.
On the next page: Helping your teen develop safe drinking habits
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed January 2021.
Sources
Review key: HIAIY-53627
