The Far North is trialling a pilot project throughout September 2025 (International FASD Awareness Month) promoting pregnancy warning signs and health messages in licensed premises.
The project is led by long-time Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) educator and advocate Bear (Dave) Hookway-Kopa, who now works with Communities Against Alcohol Harm (CAAH).
Under the pilot, licensed venues in the Far North will voluntarily display dedicated signage and providing clear, consistent messaging that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy. The initiative supports the object of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, which aims to minimise harm caused by excessive or inappropriate alcohol use. Signs for the project were sponsored by Alcohol Healthwatch and Warehouse Stationery Kerikeri.
“In Aotearoa New Zealand, around three quarters of pregnancies are exposed to alcohol. After 16 years in this field, I continue to hear from teachers, social workers and other frontline professionals that alcohol use in pregnancy is a major issue, especially in rural, deprived communities. They describe a wave of young people with ADHD, autism and other learning difficulties—many of which may be linked to prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD.”
Mr Hookway-Kopa says the Far North is an ideal place to begin the pilot.
“Our communities face some of the highest levels of alcohol-related harm in the country. At the same time, we have strong whānau leadership and commitment to change. This project is about showing what’s possible when licensed venues and regulatory agencies work together with community voices.”
“By ensuring that licensed venues display strong, respectful, and visible reminders, we are helping to prevent harm before it occurs. This is about protecting pēpi, whānau, and the future of our communities.”
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) has estimated the cost of alcohol harm at $9.1 billion per year, with $4.8 billion directly linked to FASD.
The pilot will run throughout September, with an evaluation later this year to inform further rollout across other parts of Aotearoa New Zealand.
NZ Doctor magazine published an article on the trial – click here to read.
----
