APPROACHES TO PREVENTING ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS - THE EXPERIENCE OFNEW-ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA

New Zealand and Australia have experienced similarities in their drink ing cultures and patterns since colonization. This paper briefly revie ws those experiences and looks at the approaches both countries have t aken in dealing with alcohol-related problems, Over 10 years ago Austr alia developed a national strategy embracing a harm reduction approach and more recently New Zealand embarked upon a similar process. As wel l as examining the development of these, other initiatives are examine d. These include approaches to licensing of alcohol sales, taxation, a lcohol promotion, control of drinking on licensed premises, drinking a nd driving intervention, community action, initiatives by Maori and Ab original people and efforts to educate the individual drinker.