LONG-TERM TRENDS

Over the past 50 years, levels of apparent consumption of different alcoholic beverages have changed substantially. In particular, the proportion of pure alcohol available for consumption in the form of beer has decreased considerably, from 75% in 1961-62 to 41% in 2011-12. Over the same period the proportion of wine has increased from 12% to 38%, and spirits (including RTDs) from 13% to 19%. Cider made up 1.7% of the total quantity of pure alcohol available for consumption in Australia in 2011-12 (estimated using self-reported alcohol consumption data from the 2011-12 National Health Survey; see paragraphs 25-35 of the Explanatory Notes for information on how estimates of cider were calculated).



In terms of apparent consumption of pure alcohol per capita, total consumption has fluctuated over the past 50 years. From the early 1960s onwards apparent per capita consumption increased steadily, peaking at 13.1 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15 years and over in 1974-75. Apparent per capita consumption remained relatively steady for the next 5-10 years, then declined over the following decade, reaching 9.8 litres per person in 1995-96.

Apparent consumption then gradually increased to 10.8 litres in both 2006-07 and 2007-08, before declining over the past 4 years to 10.1 litres of pure alcohol per person in 2011-12.