New Zealanders are drinking less alcohol than previously thought. 

Auckland University has carried out the country's first large-scale trial of testing wastewater to monitor alcohol consumption. 

It found the average alcohol consumption to be 1.2 standard drinks per day for people over 15 years, lower than the World Health Organisation's 2018 estimate. 

Alcohol Beverage Council executive director Virginia Nicholls told Mike Hosking that the report didn't factor in responsible drinking. 

She says 86% of Kiwis are drinking responsibly, but it's a concern that 16% are drinking in a hazardous way. 

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