3807 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

3807 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: What progress has been made in the last quarter (October to December 2023) to ‘Implement approaches to minimise harm from alcohol’ under Outcome 3: New Zealanders have fewer cancers, as part of the New Zealand Cancer Action Plan 2019 – 2029?

Hon Matt Doocey: The Health Promotion Directorate in the National Public Health Service has a number of long running programmes to increase awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption, from leading research programmes to community led action and events, social marketing campaigns and community provider services for education and interventions. These programmes continued to progress in the last quarter, and are focused on being aligned with international evidence for best practice and effectiveness. The Public Health Agency is also building capability in the area of alcohol harm reduction, with a work programme focused on alcohol policy, engagement and strategy. The development of this programme of work continued to progress between October and December 2023.