Alcohol consumption up
This produced an increase of 4.8% in our per capita consumption figure to11.46 litres compared to a 2015 figure of 10.93.
However the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland has pointed out that per capita alcohol consumption is still approximately 20% lower than it was in 2001 when the figure stood at 14.3 litres, “… so the 2016 figures have to be seen in terms of the longer-term trends,” DIGI Secretary Dónall O’Keefe told Drinks Industry Ireland magazine.
“The lift in consumption in 2016 is a natural and expected response in a recovering economy. Consumer confidence and spending is improving.”
He added that, “The CSO data pointing to growth in pub sales volume is very much to be welcomed as it is good for jobs, the Exchequer, tourism and it’s the most controlled, social environment in which to consume alcohol”.
The provisional Clearance figures indicate an 8.9% increase in spirits consumption accompanied by a 6.2% increase in wine consumption, an 8.5% increase in cider consumption and a 3.7% increase in beer consumption in 2016.
Provisional Excise Clearance Data for 2016 indicate that 65% of our beer consumption emanates from domestically-produced sources while 36% of spirits consumption is sourced domestically and 86% of cider is produced in Ireland.
December was the highest month for beer, wine and spirits consumption.
Sparkling wines were responsible for just 2.2% of the total wine consumption figure of 92.7 million litres.
