Young adults ditching alcohol for a better time

The sobering consequences of alcohol abuse in New Zealand are driving young people away from drinking.

Christchurch resident, Starla Sadd, has pledged to drink no alcohol for one year for a personal project called ‘Sober Starla’.

The project launched earlier this year in May and was inspired by Miss Sadd’s mother who passed away last year after struggling with alcoholism and addiction issues.

“It was a wake up call where you look at yourself and think she [Miss Sadd’s mother] was probably binge drinking daily. So I was looking at myself going, ‘what’s the difference?’ I was drinking three times a week; probably the same as any other alcoholic would,” she said.

‘Sober Starla’ aims to raise a minimum of $1000 for charity and enhance awareness about the dangers of alcoholism and why binge drinking is socially acceptable.

General manager of policy, research and advice at the Health Promotion Agency, Cath Edmondson, said statistics are showing a decline in young people consuming alcohol.

According to the Ministry of Health’s New Zealand Health Survey, the proportion of 18 to 24 year olds drinking hazardously has declined from 43 per cent in 2006/2007 to 34 per cent in 2014/2015.

Miss Sadd is not alone in her sober stance on drinking either.

Among those cutting alcohol from their lifestyle is Auckland University student, Jean Bell, who made the decision to stop drinking alcohol a few weeks ago.

“I felt drinking was starting to impact my personal relationships in a way that I didn’t like. It was becoming a problem; instead of helping me have a good time it was ruining it in the long run,” she said.

Miss Bell said her experience so far as been “really rewarding” despite being the only one in her social group who is sober.

“After going out without drinking I realised I don’t really need alcohol to have fun. When I don’t drink I feed off the energy of other people around me and I have more fun not drinking because I don’t feel awful the next day,” she said.

To donate to Starla Sadd's personal project visit her Givealittle page.