INTRODUCTION

1 This publication contains annual estimates of apparent alcohol consumption based on the availability of alcohol in Australia.

2 For beer and wine, estimates of total quantity available for consumption and apparent per person consumption for persons aged 15 years and over are included for both the products themselves and in terms of alcohol content. For spirits, estimates of total quantity available for consumption and apparent consumption are expressed in terms of alcohol content only. In the context of this publication, 'consumption' is not 'intake'. Available for consumption data are derived using information relating to supply which means that the data are an approximate estimate of alcohol available.

3 For this publication, import clearance data are used to measure the quantity of alcohol imported into Australia. Import clearances are those goods which are brought into Australia directly for home consumption, plus goods cleared from a bonded warehouse (i.e. goods cleared into the Australian market for home consumption following payment of duty). (International Merchandise Trade, Australia, Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2001. cat. no. 5489.0) Time series data using the current methodology, back to 1989-1990 are available on request. All requests for data should be directed, in the first instance, to the ABS National Information and Referral Service.

National Information and Referral Service
Phone: 1300 135 070 (National)
+61 2 9268 4909 (International)

Fax: 1300 135 211 (National)
+61 2 9268 4654 (International)

Email: client.services@abs.gov.au

Post: Client Services
Australian Bureau of Statistics
GPO Box 796
Sydney NSW 2001

SCOPE AND COVERAGE

4 The scope of this collection is beer, wine and spirits available for consumption. Other alcoholic beverages which do not fall within that group, e.g. ciders, are not included.

5 The apparent consumption of beer and wine includes an estimated component for home production.

6 Alcohol intake from wine is derived from import clearance data and domestic sales of Australian produced wine assuming the following concentrations of alcohol:

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Wine type

% Alcohol

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Fortified	17.9
Sparkling and carbonated	10.6
Table wine	10.8
Other wine n.e.i.	14.4

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It should be noted that the actual alcohol content of wine varies greatly, even for similar wine products.

7 Alcohol intake from beer is obtained from import clearance data and excise data on Australian production. Since 2003-04 the excise data used in these calculations has been obtained from the Australian Taxation Office. In previous years excise data was obtained from the Australian Custom Service. As the non excisable component of alcohol (the first 1.15%) was estimated by these Departments, data after 2003-04 may not be directly comparable with previous years.

8 Alcohol intake from spirits is obtained from import clearance data and excise data on Australian production with an adjustment to account for the excise paid on imported spirits which are commercially mixed with locally manufactured softdrinks after importation. Since 2003-04 the excise data used in these calculations has been obtained from the Australian Taxation Office. In previous years excise data was obtain from the Australian Customs Service.

9 Due to the relatively small quantities involved, no adjustments have been made for alcohol which is imported into Australia, cleared through the bonded warehouse and then subsequently re-exported.

10 Apparent consumption data included in this publication are calculated by dividing the quantity available for consumption by the Estimated Resident Population of persons aged 15 years and over in Australia at 31 December each year.

11 Population data are derived from those published in Australian Demographic Statistics (cat.no. 3101.0). Figures are revised as more recent data become available.

12 The following table includes the estimated resident population of persons 15 years and over and the total population figure at 31 December. The number of people 15 years and over is used to calculate the apparent per person consumption in this issue:

Individual years at 31 December	Persons aged 15 years and over	Total population
2003	16,001,385	19,982,512
2004	16,230,440	20,206,393
2005	16,490,669	20,476,223

13 Revised figures for Apparent per person consumption (15 years and over) are due to revision in Estimated Resident Population of persons aged 15 years and over in Australia at 31 December, and where applicable to revision in import clearance data in the Amount of alcohol available for consumption. Revisions to quantities of beer and wine have been made after adjustments to import clearance codes used in the analysis of apparent consumption data.

14 Import clearance codes used to calculate the Ready To Drinks (RTD) available for consumption quantity are: 2208.90.2036 (distilled alcoholic beverages, nes, having an alcoholic strength by volume exceeding 1.15% but not exceeding 10% volume) and 2208.90.2037 (spirituous beverages, nes, having an alcoholic strength by volume exceeding 1.15% but not exceeding 10% volume).