Wastewater sampling has found New Zealanders living in less populated areas are more likely to drink alcohol than those in bigger towns or cities.
South Islanders consumed more booze than the North, and those sampled also drank more if it was a public holiday or the rugby or cricket was on.
The Auckland University trial tracked wastewater samples from ten catchments covering just under half the country's population across six months in 2021.
Senior Chemical Sciences lecturer Dr Lisa Pilkington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
