Epidemiology of binge drinking
Concerns over binge drinking by teenagers has led to a review of liquor advertising being announced by the New Zealand government in January 2006. The review considered regulation of sport sponsorship by liquor companies, which at present is commonplace. Previously the drinking age in New Zealand was 20, then dropped to 18 in 1999.
Driver licence in New Zealand
Classes 1 and 6 licences are able to be obtained on or after the driver's 16th birthday. (Prior to 1 August 2011, the minimum age was 15 years, which means drivers born between 1 August 1995 and 31 July 1996 could hold a licence under 16 if they applied for it on or before 31 July 2011.) Obtaining a Class 1 or Class 6 licence involves a three-tier stage system, starting with the learner licence, followed by the restricted licence, before finally obtaining the full licence. Classes 2 to 5 can be obtained only by a driver that carries a Class 1 full licence, and involves a two-tier stage system, missing out the restricted licence step.