4307.0.55.001 - Apparent Consumption of Alcohol, Australia, 2013-14 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/05/2015   
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SUMMARY

There were 183.7 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption from alcoholic beverages in Australia in 2013-14. This was a marginal increase from the amount available for consumption in 2012-13 (183.6 million litres).

The volume of pure alcohol available for consumption in the form of beer increased by 1.0% and wine by 0.2% between 2012-13 and 2013-14. The volume of pure alcohol available for consumption in the form of Ready to Drink (pre-mixed beverages) decreased by 4.3% and spirits by 3.6% during this period.

Of all pure alcohol available for consumption in 2013-14, beer contributed 41.3%, wine 37.5%, spirits 12.6% and RTDs 6.3%. Cider contributed a further 2.2% (see paragraphs 25 to 36 of the Explanatory Notes for information on how estimates of cider were calculated).

On a per capita basis there were 9.7 litres of pure alcohol available for consumption per person in 2013-14, 1.7% less than the amount in 2012-13 (9.9 litres). As a standard drink consists of 12.5 mls of pure alcohol, this is equivalent to an average of 2.1 standard drinks per day per person aged 15 years and over. Note that these figures will overestimate the true level of alcohol consumed as beverages, as adjustments cannot be made for wastage and other factors such as for alcohol used in cooking.

TABLE 1: PURE ALCOHOL AVAILABLE FOR CONSUMPTION
Year ended 30 June
Beer
Wine
Spirits
RTDs(a)
Cider(b)
Total
VOLUME OF PURE ALCOHOL ('000 litres)
2009
81 148
65 600
22 900
13 012
1 644
184 304
2010
79 736
68 451
23 014
12 811
2 208
186 220
2011
77 327
68 000
24 034
12 814
2 733
184 907
2012
2013
2014
75 585
75 116
75 863
69 044
68 719
68 890
23 082
24 032
23 174
12 490
12 130
11 610
3 063
3 600
4 129
183 264
183 597
183 666
PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF PURE ALCOHOL(c) (litres)
2009
4.68
3.78
1.32
0.75
0.09
10.63
2010
4.51
3.87
1.30
0.72
0.12
10.53
2011
4.31
3.79
1.34
0.71
0.15
10.30
2012
2013
2014
4.14
4.04
4.01
3.78
3.70
3.64
1.26
1.29
1.23
0.68
0.65
0.61
0.17
0.19
0.22
10.04
9.88
9.71
(a) Ready to Drink (pre-mixed) beverages.
(b) See paragraphs 25 to 36 of the Explanatory Notes for information on how estimates of cider were calculated.
(c) Litres per person aged 15 years and over.



Graph Image for Apparent Consumption of Pure Alcohol, per capita(a) - Year ended 30 June 2009 to 2014

Footnote(s): (a) Litres per person aged 15 years and over. (b) Ready to Drink (pre-mixed) beverages.

Source(s): Apparent Consumption of Alcohol, Australia, 2013-14