rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
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2.4 Licit drug trends
Alcohol
When the Cook Islands was annexed to New
Zealand, only Europeans were allowed to buy
alcohol; therefore, the locals drank homebrew.
From 1940 to 1950 locals had to be
certified fit to drink, which then entitled
them to purchase a limited amount of spirits
and beers each month. In the late-1960s
purchase points were decentralised, with a
few parties selected to on-sell alcohol. There
were no limits on the quantity purchased,
and the production of homebrew became
illegal. It is not clear how and if this legislation
was enforced.
Regulations introduced in the 1970s included
Sale of Liquor Licences, including licensing for
homebrew production. 156 In the Cook Islands,
alcoholic homebrews are made from rice, pineapple,
oranges and nu uri (green coconut).
In addition, green coconuts are commonly
used for medicines, thus many attribute
medicinal properties to homebrew made from
the same fruit. Homebrew is also made from
Papaa (European) hops and malt. 157
During the 1990s structural adjustment program,
former government employees were
given a three-month payout and training to
‘up skill’. Payments were made in fortnightly
instalments. It has been reported that men in
this program began to have drinking parties
which would last up to three days. Drinks
included spirits, homebrew and beer. Passersby
referred to them as Repo taro (dirty taro),
a derogatory term used to describe manual
labourers. 158 No data are available on the
long-term impacts of the adjustment program
on drinking patterns. In addition, the
emigration of employees made redundant
as part of this program needs to be considered
as a contributing factor to consumption
patterns among this group in their destination
countries.
Looking to more recent trends, in 2008 the
Cook Islands Statistics Office reported a
steadily increasing supply of alcohol. 159 The
2006 Household Expenditure Survey report
shows annual expenditure on alcohol estimated
to be NZ$1 886 200 which, combined
with tobacco expenditure, represents 2 per
cent of total expenditure. 160 However, the
report notes that there is a trend toward
under-reporting of expenditure.
156 Above, fn.129.
157 World Health Organization (2004), Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004: Western Pacific region.
Geneva: WHO. In the 2004 fact sheet much of the data on alcohol-related accident statistics and
use patterns is from the 1990s; therefore, it is useful as an indicator of past trends.
158 Above, fn.128.
159 Above, fn.145 (2002 – $899 149; 2003 – $1 334 463; 2004 – $2 674 814; 2005 – $2 831 821;
2006 – $3 410 002).
160 Cook Islands Statistics Office (2006), Cook Islands Household Expenditure Survey (HES) 2005–06.
Rarotonga: CISO. Available online at: (accessed May 2009).