Why

Why FebFast?

Many people enjoy a drink every now and again, but for a surprising number of New Zealanders alcohol can also cause a lot of problems; more than 120,000 kiwis suffer some kind of alcohol-use disorder, and many more are affected by other alcohol related harms.

The facts about drinking in New Zealand don’t make for easy reading:

  • 1 in 5 hazardous patterns

    Among people who have consumed alcohol in the past 12 months, one in five have hazardous drinking patterns. That is about 532,000 people.

  • icon for text 800 deaths per year

    Alcohol is the cause of 1 in 20 deaths of New Zealanders aged under 80. That’s around 800 deaths a year.

  • 340 offences per day

    At least a third of all police recorded offences are committed by an offender who has consumed alcohol prior to committing the offence. That’s an average of 340 offences per day.

  • 4.9bil cost per year

    Studies have estimated that the social cost of drinking alcohol in New Zealand is $4.9 billion per year. That’s over a thousand dollars per person.


Read more about how to get involved


FebFast is an opportunity to take stock, and to reflect on the role alcohol plays in their lives. It’s about having an opportunity to take a break, and to discover a world without alcohol. At the same time, it’s a chance to support some of the many New Zealanders who find that alcohol causes more harm than good.

What's in it for participants?

FebFast participants tell us all the time how good they feel about giving up alcohol for the month. Some of the common reasons people give for participating include having a chance to give their bodies a break after a hectic festive season, to feel more alert, to lose weight, to save money, or to generally improve their health.

It was good stepping back, creating some space for healthier habits to evolve.
I've lost 2kgs so far.

For many people though, the best part of FebFast is the warm feeling that comes with making a positive contribution to those who are most affected by alcohol. Over the past 4 years, FebFast has contributed over a quarter of a million dollars to reducing the harm to the society caused by alcohol.

This year the funds will go to Rape Prevention Education

Rape Prevention Education logo

Estimates are that between one to two thirds of all sexual violence is committed by an offender who has been drinking and one to two thirds of victims have consumed alcohol (either voluntarily or forcibly) prior to experiencing the sexual assault.

Rape Prevention Education works in the greater Auckland area and nationally to prevent sexual violence through the delivery of education, health promotion and prevention activities, as well as also providing information for those affected by sexual violence


FebFast - it’s good for you, and it’s great for the people the funds raised will support.

#FebFast15