Alcohol licensing system changes and alcohol consumption: introduction of wine into New Zealand grocery stores.

New Zealand permitted grocery stores to sell table wine products beginning April 1990 with the implementation of a new Sale of Liquor Act. The number of licensed outlets for retail sales of wine for consumption off-premises increased substantially. Using an interrupted multiple time-series design with nation-wide quarterly alcohol sales data from 1983 to 1993, we assessed the effects of the policy change on sales of wine. Results from Box-Jenkins time-series models revealed a 17% increase in wine sales associated with the introduction of wine grocery stores. Increased sales were limited to the specific category of alcoholic beverages permitted in grocery stores--table wine. Sales of fortified wine, distilled spirits and beer did not increase. We conclude that expansion in retail availability of wine is associated with increased sales and consumption.