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Aussie drinking habits revealed in 100-glass breakdown

Jugs of beer placed on bar counter with copy spaceAlthough fewer people drink beer compared to wine, beer drinkers consume more of their preferred alcohol, latest data shows.

For every 100 glasses of liquor consumed by Aussies in an average four weeks, 48 glasses are beer, 25 are still wine, 11 are spirits, six are Ready-To-Drink, four are sparkling wine/Champagne, three are cider, two are liqueur and one is fortified wine, the latest data from Roy Morgan Research reveals.

Comparing the 100-glass breakdown between different age groups reveals some striking variations. For example, the beer component comprises 50 glasses out of each 100 consumed by the 18-24 year-old-age bracket, but only 42 among drinkers aged 65 and over.

Wine, on the other hand, accounts for 48 of every 100 glasses drunk by the 65+ demographic: 42 being still wine, four being sparkling/Champagne, and two being fortified. This is substantially more than any other age group: in fact, the number of glasses of wine consumed per 100 increases in proportion with age.

The 100-glass breakdown: number of glasses of each alcoholic beverage consumed per 100. (Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), January–December 2015 (n=15,676). Base: Australians 18+)
The 100-glass breakdown: number of glasses of each alcoholic beverage consumed per 100. (Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), January–December 2015 (n=15,676). Base: Australians 18+)

Andrew Price, general manager – Consumer Products, Roy Morgan Research, says “By breaking down Australian alcohol consumption data into each 100 glasses drunk in an average four weeks, we get an instant understanding of the relative volume consumed of each beverage.”

“Especially striking is the fact that although a higher proportion of Aussie adults drink wine, those who drink beer consume it in greater volumes.”

“Not surprisingly, the quantities of different beverages consumed by Aussie women and men per 100 glasses vary significantly. While beer accounts for 60 of every 100 glasses drunk by men (compared to 19 for women), women drink greater volumes of almost all the other beverages,” said Price.

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