Apparent Consumption of Alcohol, Australia, 2006-07

This publication provides estimates of the quantity of beer and wine available for consumption for the financial years 2004–05 to 2006–07. It also includes estimates of the annual apparent per person consumption of these products by persons aged 15 years and over. Estimates of pure alcohol available for consumption from these products, as well as from spirits, are also included, together with the apparent per person consumption of pure alcohol from these products by persons aged 15 years and over. The population of 15 years and over enables international comparability of alcohol supply figures but makes no assumption about the actual consumption of alcohol by persons less than 18 years.

The total quantity of pure alcohol available for consumption in alcoholic products continues to increase. Between 2005–06 and 2006–07 the total quantity of pure alcohol in alcoholic drinks available for consumption increased by 1.6% from 162.8 million litres to 165.4 million litres. The apparent per person consumption of pure alcohol by persons aged 15 years and over remained similar between 2004–05 and 2006–07 (Table 5).

The quantity of beer available for consumption decreased from 1,767.2 million litres in 2005–06 to 1,745.0 million litres in 2006–07, a decrease of 1.3%, although this was mainly in low and mid strength beer. Full strength beer increased slightly from 1301.1 million litres to 1323.2 million litres, an increase of 1.7%. The apparent consumption of beer overall by persons aged 15 years and over continues to decrease (Table 1).

The quantity of wine available for consumption rose from 463.2 million litres in 2005–06 to 490.4 million litres in 2006–07, a 5.9% increase, with the apparent per person consumption of wine by persons aged 15 years and over increasing from 28.1 to 29.2 litres of wine over this period (Table 2).

The quantity of alcohol in the form of spirits (excluding Ready to Drink spirits) available for consumption remained similar between 2005–06 and 2006–2007 (19.2 and 19.3 million litres of alcohol respectively). The apparent consumption of alcohol in the form of spirits (excluding Ready to Drink spirits) by persons aged 15 years and over remained the same (Table 3).

The quantity of alcohol in the form of Ready to Drink pre-mixed products available for consumption increased by 8.0% between 2005–2006 and 2006–2007, from 16.8 million litres to 18.1 million litres of alcohol. There was an increase of 5.9% in apparent consumption of alcohol in the form of Ready to Drink products for persons aged 15 years and over, from 1.0 to 1.1 litres of alcohol per person (Table 4).

Read Full Report
____________________________________________________________________