Young, drunk and female the dangers are real

The Dominion Post — 22 September 2007

Police are warning of the dangers of girls binge drinking after two drunk teenagers were accosted by known predators on a busy street in Wellington. Young women's binge-drinking is now matching males', with girls drinking to "get smashed" and leaving themselves vulnerable to sexual assault, robbery and violence.

Party pills are an added factor, keeping them awake longer so they drink more. Wellington police have renewed calls for caution after two separate attacks in one night this month, when two drunk girls - aged 15 and 16 - were accosted by two men. One was escorted away by a known sex offender. Members of the public intervened in both cases and called police before the girls were harmed.

But police warn that such cases are growing in frequency, and that predatory men are out there looking for very drunk girls. Wellington Hospital research has found that the number of drunk young women being admitted to the emergency department is steadily growing, and now matches boys. Among 13 and 14-year-olds, more girls than boys are being admitted for intoxication.

Youth alcohol and drug counselling service WellTrust reports a rapid rise in the proportion of young women seeking help in the past year and warns that such alcohol consumption can damage their brain growth and place them at risk. Police say the large tertiary student population means more youths are heading into town, often having drunk large amounts at home because it is cheaper. "They find themselves very, very vulnerable," Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Borrell said.

Females are particularly vulnerable because they tend to drink stronger drinks - spirits, wine and alcopops — and then try to keep up with the males, despite being less able to process the alcohol. They place themselves at risk not only of sex attacks, but also of theft, violence, getting into a car with a drunk driver, and making other bad choices.

In August last year Victoria University student Daniel Hansman died when he fell into Wellington Harbour after being refused entry to a Courtenay Place bar. His father, Eddie Hansman, described the drinking culture as "the killing fields of New Zealand" and called for the drinking age to return to 20 from its present 18.

Last November, MPs voted 72–49 against the rise.Police are asking everyone who plans to drink to stick together, and to plan how they will get home.