4727.0.55.005 - Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Nutrition Results - Food and Nutrients, 2012-13  
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ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

The Alcoholic beverages food group includes beers, wines, spirits, cider and other alcoholic beverages.

About one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 19 years and over (19%) consumed Alcoholic beverages. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males aged 19 years and over were more than twice as likely as females in this age group to consume Alcoholic beverages (26% compared with 11%). Consumption among males was highest in the 31-50 year age range where around one in three males (35%) consumed alcohol. In comparison, consumption among females increased with age to 14% among the 51 years and over age range (see Table 4.1).

Was there a difference in remoteness?

A lower proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults in remote areas than non-remote areas reported consuming Alcoholic beverages (14% and 20% respectively).

Graph Image for Alcoholic beverage consumption(a)(b) by sex and remoteness, 2012-13

Footnote(s): (a) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 19 years and over. (b) On the day prior to interview.

Source(s): Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Nutrition Results – Foods and Nutrients, 2012-13


How did this compare with non-Indigenous people?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 19 years and over were less likely than non-Indigenous adults to have consumed Alcoholic beverages (19% compared with 32%). However of those who did consume Alcoholic beverages, the median consumed was more than twice as high among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers (equivalent to 3 bottles of beer or 1.5 bottles of wine) than non-Indigenous consumers (equivalent to 1.2 bottles of beer or almost 5 glasses of wine)1 (see Table 6.1 and Table 6.3).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males derived a greater proportion of energy from Alcoholic beverages than females, with an average daily total of 9.0%, compared with only 3.5% for females. In the non-Indigenous population there was a more even distribution, with males and females deriving 7.0% and 4.6% of average daily energy respectively (see Table 8.1 and Table 8.3).

The most commonly consumed Alcoholic beverages were Beers (11%) and Wines (4.2%), with Spirits (excluding pre-mixed drinks) being consumed by 1.2% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. In contrast, non-Indigenous people were most likely to have consumed Wines (16%), followed by Beers (14%) (see Table 4.1 and Table 4.3).

Graph Image for Alcoholic beverage consumption(a)(b) by Indigenous status, 2012-13

Footnote(s): (a) Persons aged 19 years and over. (b) On the day prior to interview.

Source(s): Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Nutrition Results – Foods and Nutrients, 2012-13


ENDNOTES

1. This refers to a 375ml bottle of beer, 750ml bottle of wine, or a 100ml glass of wine.