Telling porkies about booze consumption
A new study suggests truth and alcohol may not mix, particularly when people are asked how much they drink.
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A new British study suggests truth and alcohol may not mix, particularly when people are asked how much they drink.
University College London researchers Sadie Boniface and Nicola Shelton compared self-reported data in a public health survey accounting for 14,041 people aged 16 and over with alcohol sales figures kept by UK tax authorities.
The researchers found a big gap between the amount of alcohol people own up to drinking and that alcohol sold nationwide. In fact, they estimate the gap could be as high as 40%.
Ms Boniface says the unreported alcohol equates to nearly one bottle of wine for every adult Briton every week – an amount too great to be just disappearing.
Statistics New Zealand figures released last week show the amount of alcohol available for consumption – as opposed to that consumed – fell 3.3% in 2012, mainly due to a 20 million litre drop in beer production. Wine production rose 4.3 million litres.
Industry sources say the lower volume of beer is because of a poor summer in 2012 and a cool pre-Christmas period.
Since then, however, beer sales have risen dramatically with the hottest summer in years.
The statistics show the per capita (over 15) volume of pure alcohol available for consumption fell 1.7% to 9.3 litres in 2012, equivalent to a couple of standard drinks a day.
NBR Staff
Mon, 11 Mar 2013
Mon, 11 Mar 2013
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Telling porkies about booze consumption
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