Official alcohol guidelines understate health risks, ministry documents reveal

Monday 14 July 2025 · 4 outlets · 4 reports · updated Mon 14 Jul 2025, 5:59pm

In this story Health New Zealand, Ministry of Health

Health New Zealand documents show that current low-risk drinking guidelines are outdated and underestimate health risks. Efforts to update the advice were reportedly halted following complaints from alcohol lobbyists to a Ministry of Health general manager.

How they headlined it

5h8h

5:23am10:01am5:59pm

1. RNZMon 14 Jul 2025, 5:23am

   Outdated alcohol guidelines understate health risks, ministry documents reveal (opens in new tab)

2. Otago Daily TimesMon 14 Jul 2025, 10:01am

   Alcohol guidelines 'outdated, understate health risks' (opens in new tab)

3. 1News via RNZMon 14 Jul 2025, 10:03am

   Outdated alcohol guidelines understate health risks, ministry docs reveal (opens in new tab)

4. StuffMon 14 Jul 2025, 5:59pm

   Watch: Alcohol expert tells Sam Hayes that NZ drinking guidelines are too high and outdated (opens in new tab)