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.
Alcohol in New Zealand
The swill was made permanent in 1919 owing to pressure from the then powerful temperance movement. The new law was supposed to curb drunkenness and crime and to send men home early to encourage family life, however six o'clock closing had the opposite effect. 
Men would finish work at 5 pm and had only one hour to drink as much alcohol (usually beer and from half gallon (2.2 litre) jugs) as possible before closing. This phenomenon created a culture of binge drinking.