E-Malt.com News article: New Zealand: Beer remained the most popular type of alcoholic beverage

Beer remained the most popular type of alcoholic beverage in New Zealand accounting for more than two-thirds of the total available for consumption in 2006. But its 42 percent total was 2 percent down from its 44 percent in 2005, New Zealand Press Association reported February 22.

The volume of alcohol available for consumption in New Zealand hit a new high last year after steadily increasing since 1996. But the reasons for the steady increase could relate to a number of factors, including extended opening hours, sales in supermarkets, more licensees and increased population, not just the lowering of the drinking age, the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) says.

According to Statistics New Zealand, which issued alcohol consumption figures today, the popularity of alcopops was the leading contributor to a new high in the total volume in 2006. The volume of spirit-based drinks has increased every year since 1996.

The total volume of alcoholic beverage available for consumption in the December 2006 year was 463.9 million litres, for the first time exceeding the level recorded in 1986 when the records started.

After generally decreasing from 1987 to 1997, the total volume of alcohol available for consumption has increased almost every year since then.

The drinking age was lowered from 20 to 18 in 1999.

The Statistics New Zealand data showed spirits per capita consumption volumes rose by 4 percent in 2006. The sector also lifted its share of the overall drinks market, increasing by 1 percent to 24 percent.

Distilled Spirits Association chief executive Thomas Chin put the growth of the spirits sector down to the wider range of flavours, innovative packaging and variety of brands available on the market.

“Spirits keep winning over customers and are close to accounting for a quarter of all alcohol consumed in this country,'' he said. “As Kiwis are experimenting with new tastes and flavours, their beverage preferences are clearly shifting towards the variety and the versatility that spirits offer.''

ALAC chief executive Gerard Vaughan said the patterns of consumption in New Zealand were the real concern.

“The way we drink is the real problem for us, therefore an increase in total consumption is not necessarily indicative of an increase in harm,'' Mr Vaughan said. “We see binge drinking as the real problem and the harm it causes.''

He said caution was needed around cause and effect, such as whether the change to the purchase age in 1999 had any effect on the increased figures. “A lot of other things have gone on during that period, such as increased opening hours, sales in supermarkets, more licensees and increased population.''


23 February, 2007