4307.0.55.001 - Apparent Consumption of Alcohol, Australia, 2016-17 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/09/2018   
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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication provides estimates of apparent consumption of alcohol based on the availability of alcoholic beverages in Australia. It provides estimates of the quantity of pure alcohol available for consumption from beer, wine, spirits, Ready to Drink (pre-mixed) beverages (RTDs) and cider, plus estimates of the total volume of beer and wine available for consumption.

Estimates of apparent per capita consumption for each of the alcoholic beverage types are also provided, for the population aged 15 years and over. This population is consistent with international standards for measuring trends in apparent consumption over time. See the Explanatory Notes for more information regarding population estimates used to calculate apparent per capita consumption.

It should be noted that estimates of apparent consumption of alcoholic beverages (excluding cider) are derived using information relating to supply (that is, data on domestic sales of Australian produced wine, excise data on alcohol produced for domestic consumption, data on imports and an estimated component for home production). This estimation differs from personal consumption estimates from a survey from which individual and group patterns may be derived. Estimates of apparent consumption provide a measure of how much alcohol is available for consumption in a given financial year (i.e. production). No adjustments are made for:

  • changes in stocks;
  • duty-free alcohol imported into Australia by individual overseas travellers;
  • alcohol which is imported into Australia, cleared through a bonded warehouse and then subsequently re-exported; or
  • alcohol that has been stored or cellared, used in the preparation of food or discarded as waste.

Estimates of the quantity of pure alcohol available for consumption from cider have been derived indirectly using assumptions based on self-reported information on individuals' consumption of alcohol from the 2004-05, 2007-08, 2011-12 and 2014-15 ABS National Health Surveys, in conjunction with total apparent consumption of alcohol.