close
MENU
NBR Focus
5 mins to read

Price Check: ‘Sawtooth’ booze pricing confounds consumers

Supermarket operators refuse to explain why the price of alcohol varies dramatically from week to week.

WATCH: Alcohol Healthwatch executive director Andrew Galloway speaks with Maria Slade.

Maria Slade Wed, 13 Dec 2023
Key points
  • What’s at stake: Supermarkets vary the price of alcohol dramatically week to week, exclusive pricing data shows.
  • Background: Supermarkets sell about a third of all alcohol by volume, and rely heavily on promotions to drive sales.
  • Key players: Countdown, Foodstuffs, Alcohol Healthwatch, Auckland University, Waikato University, NZ Alcohol Beverages Council.

When people’s incomes go up and the real price of alcohol goes down, they drink more, a study by Alcohol Healthwatch says.

This may seem like stating the obvious, but delve into the advocacy group’s 2021 report and the role supermarkets play in this trend is revealed.

Supermarkets sell a third of

Want to read more? It's easy.

Choose your best value subscription option

Student

Exclusive offer for uni students studying at a New Zealand university (valued at $499).
Individual
Group membership
NBR Marketplace

Yearly Premium Online Subscription

NZ$499.00 / yearly

Monthly Premium Online Subscription

NZ$44.95 / monthly

Smartphone Only Subscription

NZ$24.95 / monthly

Premium Group Membership 10 Users

NZ$350+GST / monthly

$35 per user - Pay by monthly credit card debit

Premium Group Membership 20 Users

NZ$600+GST / monthly

$30 per user - Pay by monthly credit card debit

Premium Group Membership 50 Users

NZ$1250+GST / monthly

$25 per user - Pay by monthly credit card debit

Premium Group Membership 100 Users

NZ$1875+GST / monthly

$18.75 per user - Pay by monthly credit card debit

Yearly Premium Online Subscription + NBR Marketplace

NZ$499.00 / yearly

Already have an account? Login
Contact the Writer: maria@nbr.co.nz
News tip? Question? Typo? Let us know: editor@nbr.co.nz
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Key points
  • What’s at stake: Supermarkets vary the price of alcohol dramatically week to week, exclusive pricing data shows.
  • Background: Supermarkets sell about a third of all alcohol by volume, and rely heavily on promotions to drive sales.
  • Key players: Countdown, Foodstuffs, Alcohol Healthwatch, Auckland University, Waikato University, NZ Alcohol Beverages Council.
Price Check: ‘Sawtooth’ booze pricing confounds consumers
NBR Focus,
102103
true