After eight years of annual increases, the amount of alcohol available for consumption dropped by 3.1% during 2009, according to the latest figures from Statistics New ZealandThe total amount of alcoholic beverages available dropped to 471 million litres
After eight years of annual increases, the amount of alcohol available for consumption dropped by 3.1% during 2009, according to the latest figures from Statistics New Zealand
The total amount of alcoholic beverages available dropped to 471 million litres during the 2009 year.
The data from Statistics New Zealand does not represent what was actually consumed – only what is available.
Business statistics manager Kathy Connolly said that beer drove the overall decline in volumes, although it remained the drink of choice for most kiwis.
Spirits now represent 15% of the total volume of alcohol, while New Zealander’s taste for wine is slowly rising, up 1% to 20% of total volume produced for the year.
The amount of pure alcohol available per person aged 15 years and over decreased 2.4% from 2008 to 9.3 litres.
There was also a drop in the amount of cigarettes available for consumption in 2009 also dropped 4.5% to 2.4 billion.
It matched a 1.6% decline in the amount of tobacco available to 856 tonnes, after a 3.7% drop in 2008.
"This is the first time since 2003 that a fall in tobacco has coincided with a fall in available cigarettes," said Ms Connolly.
