The total alcohol consumed by an Australian aged 15 years and more in 2016-17 was equivalent to 186 million litres of pure alcohol. Credit: Adam Jaime on Unsplash.

Alcohol consumption in Australia is reported to have significantly reduced to a level that has not been seen since the 1960s, according to the Australia Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) data.

The total alcohol consumed by Australians aged more than 15 years old in 2016-17 was equivalent to 186 million litres of pure alcohol. This reflects a large reduction in consumption per person, at 9.4l.

ABS’ health statistics director Louise Gates said: “This is the lowest annual figure since 1961-62 and it continues a recent downward trend, which started around 2008-09.

“Over three-quarters of alcohol consumed was from either beer (39%) or wine (38%).

“This is the lowest annual figure since 1961-62 and it continues a recent downward trend.”

“While alcohol consumed from wine has declined recently, the drop in beer consumption has been the main driver for falling alcohol consumption with an average decline of 2.4% per year over the last ten years.”

Beer, wine, spirits, ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages and cider are the major contributors to alcohol sales.

Gates further added: “Using the average consumption levels for each category, the 9.4l of pure alcohol can be expressed as the average Australian aged 15 and over consuming the equivalent of 224 stubbies (375ml) of beer, 38 bottles (750ml) of wine, 17 bottles (375ml) of cider, four bottles (700ml) of spirits and 33 cans (375ml) of premixed ready to drink varieties.

“If 224 stubbies sounds like a lot, contrast that with 1974-75 when Australia reached peak beer and consumption was equivalent to more than 500 stubbies per person.”