The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has just released figures that show we as a nation are consuming less beer than we did 60 years ago.

Beer consumption fell from 4.62 litres to 4.56 litres per capita in the year to June. Over the past 5 years, the amount of alcohol available for consumption from low strength beer has decreased by nearly 40%.

In the 1970’s an Aussie bloke was happy to down on average 11 stubbies a week. This has now been reduced to around 6 cans of beer a week.

So why has the good old Aussie ice cold beer been forsaken? It seems that the emphasis on obesity and good health have contributed to young people drinking less beer, with wine or pre mixed alcoholic drinks now being their drink of choice.

The consumption of wine rose from 3.73 litres to 3.81 litres in the last financial year. This accounts for 37% of all alcoholic drinks consumed in that time period.

The total amount of pure alcohol consumed by persons over the age of 15 years in 2009/10 equated to around 2.3 standard drinks per person per day.

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.
Source: Courier Mail. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)