The Shout – 18/7/11
The latest ABS research found that Australia’s alcohol per capita consumption in 2008/2009 was significantly lower than it was in the mid 1970s.
“In 1960-61 Australians consumed the equivalent of 9.3 litres of pure alcohol per person, climbing to a high of 13.1 litres in 1974-75,” it states.
”Consumption started to fall in the early 80’s, hitting a low of 9.8 litres in 1995-96. Since then, it has crept up again to 10.4 litres in 2008-09, which is still a fifth lower than the 1974-75 peak.”
There has also been a drop in per capita alcohol consumption in 2010 compared to 2009, down from 10.4 to 10.37 litres of pure alcohol / capita – a decline of over 18 percent since 1979.