Alcohol consumption down to lowest level for almost 20 years, new figures show
Consumption per head fell to its lowest point in almost two decades, to 7.7 litres. It was the seventh year in the past nine to see a fall - with an 18% decline since 2004.
The last time per head consumption was lower was in 1995, when it stood at 7.5 litres.
Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, said: “We have now experienced a decade of falling alcohol consumption. While total consumption per head is not synonymous with alcohol-related harm, these are interesting figures, as the percentage of those drinking at harmful levels has also been falling, as have the number of under-18s drinking.
“The industry will continue to work to tackle alcohol misuse, but there are several encouraging trends, and accurate and up-to-date figures are important for the debate around alcohol.”
Year | Alcohol consumption (per total population, litres per head) |
1980 | 7.4 |
1990 | 7.9 |
2000 | 8.4 |
2001 | 8.7 |
2002 | 9.1 |
2003 | 9.2 |
2004 | 9.5 |
2005 | 9.3 |
2006 | 9.0 |
2007 | 9.2 |
2008 | 8.9 |
2009 | 8.3 |
2010 | 8.4 |
2011 | 8.2 |
2012 | 7.9 |
2013 | 7.7 |
