Australia: Alcohol Consumption Continues Declining
New data from the Roy Morgan Alcohol Consumption Report show that alcohol use in Australia continues to decline, despite the panic buying of alcohol earlier due to COVID-19 lockdown.
The Roy Morgan Survey is conducted annually deriving responses from about 50,000 Australians through in-depth interviews. They issued a press release with most recent data on alcohol consumption in the country showing a decline in Australian alcohol use.
Roy Morgan is Australia’s longest established independent market research company, with a reputation for reliable and accurate market research. The Company operates globally.
Key findings from Roy Morgan Single Source data
- A total of 66.3% (13,073,000) of Australians aged 18+ in the year to March 2020 consume alcohol in an average four-week period, down from 67.5% (13,102,000) twelve months ago.
- Liquor was the only alcohol category of which consumption increased year-on-year rising from 26.3% (5,099,000) to 28.7% (5,671,000).
- Wine consumption decreased from 42.8% (8,303,000) to 41.0% (8,096,000).
- Beer consumption fell from 38.2% (7,409,000) to 37.6% (7,413,000).
- Cider consumption dropped from 11.4% (2,210,000) to 10.7% (2,114,000).
- Ready-to-drinks (RTDs) consumption remained unchanged at 10.8% (2,138,000).
- Use of Liqueurs fell from 6.5% (1,265,000) to 5.8% (1,148,000).
- Consumption of Fortified Wine dropped from 4.9% (960,000) to 4.2% (827,000).
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source Australia, Apr. 2018- Mar 2019, n= 16,276. Apr. 2019-Mar. 2020, n= 14,632. Base: Australians aged 18+.
Regarding the attitudes about alcohol use among Australians, the survey found:
- Two-thirds of Australian alcohol users (65.4%) agreed they ‘use alcohol mostly at home’ with more men (67.3%) than women (63.5%) agreeing.
- Across age groups, alcohol users aged 65+ are most likely to agree they ‘use alcohol mostly at home’ (71.8%). They are followed by those aged 50-64 (70%), then 35-49 (67.2%), 25-34 (59.3%) and 18-24 (49.2%), respectively.
The trend of declining alcohol consumption in Australia is positive. Figures show that a third of Australians do not in fact consume alcohol. However, there is grave concern in communities around the country, that the COVID-19 crisis might be fueling a new wave alcohol harm, for example through changing Australians alcohol consumption behavior and norms. People switching to alcohol use at home might be affecting individuals, families and communities negatively.