4307.0.55.001 - Apparent Consumption of Alcohol, Australia, 2011-12 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/09/2013   
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SUMMARY
There were 183.5 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption from alcoholic beverages in Australia in 2011-12. This was 0.8% less than the amount available for consumption in 2010-11 (184.9 million litres).

The decrease was comprised of decreases in spirits (down 4.0%), Ready to Drink (pre-mixed) beverages (down 2.5%) and beer (down 2.3%). The volume of pure alcohol available for consumption in the form of wine increased by 1.9%.

Of all pure alcohol available for consumption in 2011-12, beer contributed 41.2%, wine 37.8%, spirits 12.6% and RTDs 6.8%. Cider contributed a further 1.7% (see paragraphs 25 to 35 of the Explanatory Notes for information on how estimates of cider were calculated).

On a per capita basis there were 10.1 litres of pure alcohol available for consumption per person in 2011-12, 2.3% less than the amount in 2010-11 (10.3 litres). As a standard drink consists of 12.5 mls of pure alcohol, this is equivalent to an average of 2.2 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)
2007
77 849
62 263
r19 354
18 123
1 066
r178 655
2008
79 496
62 807
r20 148
18 693
1 087
r182 231
2009
81 148
65 600
r22 900
13 012
1 644
r184 304
2010
79 736
68 451
r23 014
12 811
2 208
r186 220
2011
r77 327
r68 000
r24 034
12 814
2 733
r184 907
2012
75 585
69 287
23 082
12 490
3 068
183 512
PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF PURE ALCOHOL(c) (litres)
2007
r4.69
r3.75
r1.17
r1.09
0.06
r10.76
2008
r4.69
r3.71
r1.19
r1.10
0.06
r10.75
2009
r4.68
r3.78
r1.32
r0.75
0.09
r10.63
2010
r4.51
r3.87
r1.30
r0.72
0.12
r10.53
2011
r4.31
r3.79
r1.34
r0.71
0.15
r10.30
2012
4.14
3.80
1.26
0.68
0.17
10.05
r revised (see paragraph 5 of the Explanatory Notes)
na not available
(a) Ready to Drink (pre-mixed) beverages.
(b) See paragraphs 25 to 35 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 2007 to 2012

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, 2011-12