EDs brace for crate day injuries

Facial fractures, concussion, broken bones, lacerations, assault-related injuries, verbal abuse, and alcohol poisoning – all are expected to rocket at emergency departments (ED) around the country as another crate day rolls around.

The event was launched by The Rock radio station in 2009 as a publicity stunt encouraging people to mark the first Saturday of summer by buying a crate of beer.

Christchurch Hospital ED doctor Scott Pearson said the number of alcohol-related injuries seen in ED doubled on crate day compared with an average weekend in December.

Comparing the most recent Saturday with the two previous crate days, there was a fivefold increase in people going to ED for alcohol-related issues.

Last Saturday the ED saw five people with alcohol-related injuries. On crate day in 2018 there were 29, while at last year’s event there were 23 injuries.

Pearson said guidelines recommended no more than three standard drinks per day for men and two for women, but a crate would contain 29 standard drinks. ‘‘Not everybody will drink a whole crate, but advertising and marketing seems to support that level of drinking.’’

Pearson is among a group including ED staff, police, councils, Ma¯ ori health advocates and public health workers who want the event banned.

Pearson said injuries from dangerous drinking on crate day included those from associated violence and falls – such as lacerations, broken and twisted ankles, cuts from walking on broken glass and facial fractures.

People arriving at ED heavily intoxicated suffer alcohol poisoning and risk death from choking on their own vomit.

In 2019, crate day was joint top as the day with the highest number of accepted injury claims to ACC for 18to 24-year-olds.

The Rock’s content manager, Brad King, said crate day was not sponsored or owned by The Rock and previous campaigns for the day promoted the message ‘‘that this day is about sharing a crate with your mates at your place’’.

This year the station has been promoting a music countdown, ‘‘The Rock’s 100 Cratest hits’’, starting from midday on Saturday. ‘‘The Rock doesn’t condone irresponsible alcohol consumption, public nuisance or binge drinking,’’ King said.

Super Liquor chief executive Campbell McMahon said the bottle store company had crate day promotions being advertised on Stuff and The Rock, and with in-store posters.

He said the company was ‘‘committed to the highest standards of responsible liquor retail and to ensuring we and our stores meet all the regulations related to the sale, advertising and promotion of alcohol, designed to minimise alcohol-related harm’’.

David Ratu, a Ma¯ ori health advocate and a former South Auckland Ma¯ori warden, said the day would only increase ‘‘grief’’ for Ma¯ ori, who have a disproportionately higher rate of harm from alcohol. ‘‘I’m fearful of what will happen. We know from past experiences of crate day that domestic violence, drunk driving and any kind of violence – that tends to peak, no doubt about it.’’

Alcohol Healthwatch executive director Nicki Jackson said the liquor industry made more crates available – including crates of readyto-drink premixed alcohol – for the day and made ‘‘huge profits’’ from it.

‘‘No amount of host responsibility is going to curb the harm from this event,’’ she said.