A new ‘lifetime’ study has found 33 per cent of New Zealanders drink 'hazardously' their entire adult life.
The idea that young Kiwi drinkers mature out of risky drinking when they get older is incorrect, according to a longitudinal study by Massey University.
Dr Andy Towers told TVNZ's Breakfast the findings were "alarming".
“The results are not what we expected,” he said.
The study researched over 800 participants aged 50+ and found 13 per cent of men were found to binge drink - which constitutes five to six drinks - at least once a week for most of their entire adult lives.
This hazardous level of drinking increased their immediate risk of harm – blackouts and hospitalisation - or long term health issues.
He said it was previously thought that people who drunk heavily in their teens and 20s would grow out of it, but that was not the case.
"What we found was very stable patterns of drinking from early on, right through to 60s and 70s.
"Thirty-three per cent of this sample of New Zealanders started drinking hazardously in their 20s, and they maintained that hazardous drinking right throughout their life, up to their 60s and 70s."
Dr Towers said we needed to be "brave" and speak to friends and family about drinking.
"What it might be doing to their health and the health of their children, and whether we can do something about it," he said.
"We need to make sure that when people start drinking its an environment where alcohol is not so cheap, it is not so prevalent and that we make sure we are much more smarter and regulate it."
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