Alcohol
New drink drive limits cost drivers $1m in fines
Almost 5000 drivers have been pinged with almost $1 million in fines since the drink-driving limit was lowered.
Drunks fill emergency dept
Tougher drinking laws called for as Wellington Hospital bears the brunt of the ready flow of alcohol in the community. Audio
Poor support for caregivers of children with foetal alcohol damage
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - or FASD - covers a wide range of brain and physical development impairments that start with prenatal exposure to alcohol. It can result in significant behaviour and… Audio
Electricity top-up suppliers questioned
A Thames mother says it is disgusting that people who need to top up their pre-pay power deals may have to do so in a liquor store. Audio
Queenstown alcohol policy
The Queenstown Lakes District Council will spend a year in consultation about its alcohol policy. The Medical Officer of Public Health South Dr Derek Bell joins tThe Panel to discuss why this will… Audio
New push for ban on alcohol ads, sponsorship
A group of alcohol and public health researchers is pushing for the phase out of alcohol advertising and sponsorship over five years.
Hangovers and microbes
Professor Tim Spector of King's College London on how the microbial communities in your gut could be playing a major role in how bad your hangover is after you overindulge in alcohol. Audio
Alcohol sachets
A call is being made to ban alcohol sachets. They're being smuggled in to places like Eden Park in Auckland. We talk to City Councillor Dr Cathy Casey about her fears for easily hidden and dispensed… Audio
Drink price hike to stop soldiers' drunken violence
To Australia, where the cost of a drink at any one of the Defence Force's more than 130 bars is about to rise sharply. Audio
Council shies away from tough alcohol rules
The Dunedin City Council has shied away from introducing tough new rules for bars after consulting with the public. Audio
Revving up for a Health Pit Stop
The Institute of Rural Health is taking a Health Pit Stop out to farmers to check on things like Blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI and sugar levels, as well as getting them to fill in a questionnaire… Audio
When and where Aucklanders buy alcohol to change
When and where Aucklanders can buy a drink is set to change. Audio
Auckland liquor policy
Shorter trading hours for alcohol in Auckland. The Panel is joined by Professor Jennie Connor of the University of Otago about whether these sales restrictions will mean much to alcohol abuse. Audio
Critics claim loyalty card is a cunning marketing ploy
A new loyalty card which is aimed at people with student loans is being critised for being nothing more than a marketing ploy. Audio
Drunk ship's captain is fined in Tauranga
A ship's captain has been fined three-thousand dollars for being drunk in charge of a bulk carrier. Audio
Hikitia crane death
Dr Marc Wilson the head of psychology at Victoria University joins the Panel to talk about the connection between social media, alcohol and risky behaviour. Audio
Alcohol and risky behaviour
Dunedin student keg party sees the streets erupt into mayhem and an ambulance trashed. Audio
Study blames violence on macho culture
Anne Fox is a UK-based anthropologist who has studied drinking cultures around the world for the last 20 years. She has just completed a study into New Zealand and Australia drinking cultures… Audio
Rats given oxytocin don't get drunk.
Scientists in Sydney have discovered rats which are given the hormone oxytocin and then alcohol remain completely sober. Audio
Spain: Breathalysing pedestrians
Ashifa Kassam lives and works in Spain where there are plans to breathalyse pedestrians. Also wine researchers are trying to preserve the country's rare grape varieties. Audio