WELLINGTON, Feb 27 (NNN-XINHUA) – The number of standard drinks of alcohol per person, available for consumption, declined to 1.96 per day in 2022, a fall of one percent, the statistics department, Stats NZ, said today.
This is the lowest number of standard drinks of alcohol available per person, in the last 15 years, international trade manager, Alasdair Allen, said.
The total volume of spirits available increased 3.2 percent in 2022, to 103 million litres, while the volume of wine available dropped 5.9 percent to 101 million litres. This continues the trend seen over the last two years, Allen said.
Mid-strength beers available have seen a long-term decline with alcohol content between 2.5 and 4.35 percent beer and an increase in 4.35 to percent beer, he said.
Beer with alcohol content from 2.5 to 4.35 percent decreased 21 percent to 76 million liters in 2022, while beer with alcohol content from 4.35 to five percent, increased 26 percent to 177 million litres, statistics show.
Overall, the total volume of beer available was little changed in 2022, with 294 million litres available for consumption. Both low- and high-strength beers declined, Allen said.
Beer with alcohol content of up to 2.5 percent decreased 12 percent to 6.9 million litres, while beer with alcohol content of more than five percent decreased 29 percent to 34 million litres, he said.– NNN-XINHUA
