Fresh concerns about our alcohol consumption

Health New Zealand's released a report on the population's health - the first of its kind since the agency was established.

It highlights continued alcohol-related harm as one of our key challenges - noting consumption contributes to road traffic injuries, drownings, suicide and relationship disruptions.

Report author Gary Jackson says we saturate our society with alcohol -- and there's some worries there.

He says about seven percent of the cancers we have are due to alcohol - including the likes of breast and bowel cancers - so it has consequences.