Alcohol availability rises in 2010

Larger volumes of high-alcohol spirits in New Zealand in 2010 drove the 5.5 percent increase in the total volume of pure alcohol available for consumption, Statistics New Zealand said today.

"Spirits that had an alcohol content greater than 23 percent contributed 16 percent of the total volume of pure alcohol available in 2010, compared with 14 percent in 2009,” overseas trade manager Neil Kelly said.

In 2010, the volume of pure alcohol available per person aged 15 years and over rose 3.7 percent to 9.6 litres, following a 2.4 percent decrease the previous year.

The total volume of alcoholic beverages available for consumption rose 0.6 percent to 474 million litres. There were increases in the volume of wine available for consumption, up 7.3 million litres (7.7 percent), and spirits and spirit-based drinks, up 2.4 million litres (3.5 percent). Although beer remains the most popular alcoholic beverage in New Zealand, volumes fell 6.8 million litres (2.2 percent) in 2010.

Alcohol statistics are a measure of how much alcohol is available for consumption and not a measure of actual consumption. 

Geoff Bascand 21 February 2011

Government Statistician

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