Apparent consumption of alcohol per person has increased for the first time in nine years, according to data released by the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.
"In 2015-16, there were 189 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption, which is 9.7 litres for every person in Australia aged 15 years and over," said Louise Gates, ABS Director of Health Statistics. "This is the first time the annual figure has increased since 2006-07.
"This is contrary to the long-term trend where the pure alcohol consumption per capita has dropped from 12.9 litres per person in 1975-76 to 9.7 litres in 2015-16.
"The main contributor to the rise in pure alcohol available for consumption per person was beer which also increased for the first time in nine years to 3.9 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 years and over.
"In 2015-16, beer represented 40 per cent of all pure alcohol available for consumption, a slight increase from 39 per cent in 2014-15, although still a decrease over recent decades from 45 per cent in 2005-06 and 54 per cent in 1995-96."
Other results discussed in the 2015-16 Apparent Consumption of Alcohol (cat. no. 4307.0.55.001) publication include apparent consumption of beer, wine, spirits and Ready to Drink (pre-mixed beverages) and cider. This publication is available for free download from: http://www.abs.gov.au/.
