[ad_1]
A day that encourages drinkers to celebrate the first weekend of summer with cases of beer has been labeled “dangerous and irresponsible” for contributing to an increase in family violence.
Crate Day was released by radio station The Rock in 2009 as a publicity stunt. It has since been adopted by the liquor industry, with many vendors creating cases of ready-to-drink premixed alcohol in addition to beer.
Police data shows that family injury incidents on the weekends before Cash Day were 20 to 30 percent higher compared to other first weekends of the month throughout the year.
In 2019, there were 1,193 calls for the weekend of December 1 (565) and 2 (628).
READ MORE:
* Another cash day, another nightmare for New Zealand’s emergency departments
* Coronavirus: Online Alcohol Sales Soar During Covid-19 Lockdown
* Easter is moving forward: warehouse to donate thousands of eggs
This compared to 933, the annual average for the first weekends of the month.
In 2018, there were 1,010 calls on the weekend of December 1 (484) and 2 (526), compared to 832 for other first monthly weekends that year.
The day with the highest number of family injury calls was New Years Day with 711 in 2018, 755 in 2019.
Things
Since then, Crate Day has been embraced by the liquor industry, with many vendors creating cases of ready-to-drink pre-mixed alcohol in addition to beer.
Women’s Refuge executive director Dr. Ang Jury said binge drinking was a factor in the “vast majority” of domestic violence incidents.
“What alcohol does is it loosens inhibitions and increases tensions, and therefore it can make things worse.”
Excessive alcohol use would increase the risk of committing or being a victim of domestic violence, Jury said.
“I think the problem with things like Crate Day is that this is an explicit encouragement to stop talking.”
Crate Day created an “obvious risk” of sexual abuse and assault, he said.
“Overindulgence in alcohol, and I’m not the funny cop, leads to increased risk. It shouldn’t because you should be able to do whatever you want and know that you’ll be safe, but that’s not the reality we live in. “
Cameron Burnell / Stuff
Women’s Refuge CEO Dr. Ang Jury says heavy drinking increases the risk of family harm.
The jury encouraged the women to hang out with friends if they were in a heavy drinking environment.
Christchurch Hospital physician Scott Pearson said the number of alcohol-related injuries seen in the emergency department doubled on Cash Day, compared to an average weekend in December.
Comparing the most recent Saturday to the previous two Crate Days, there was a five-fold increase in people who came to the ER for alcohol-related problems.
Dangerous drinking injuries on checkout day included associated violence and falls, such as lacerations, broken and sprained ankles, cuts from walking on broken glass and facial fractures.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / Stuff
Dr. Scott Pearson wants Crate Day to be banned, as it sparks a wave of emergencies.
The Rock’s content manager, Brad King, said that Crate Day was not sponsored or owned by The Rock and previous campaigns for the day promoted the message “this day is about sharing a box with your friends at home.”
This year, the station has been promoting a music countdown, “Cratest’s 100 Hits from The Rock,” starting at noon on Saturday.
“The Rock does not condone irresponsible drinking, public nuisance, or excessive drinking,” King said.
