Record 52m Gallons Of Beer Brewed In N.Z.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29715, 8 January 1962, Page 10

Record 52m Gallons Of Beer Brewed In N.Z.

New Zealand’s 17 breweries produced a record 52.400,000 gallons of beer and stout in the year which ended last March. It was valued at £ 22.800.000 and was nearly 10 per cent, more than the previous year.

The latest figures given in the Abstract of Statistics show that bulk beer production increased from 33.4 m gallons to 356 m gallons in ’960-61. Bottled beer production increased by 2 4m gallons to 16 8m gallons.

New Zealanders’ ,thirsts matched the breweries’ efforts.

Consumption of beer reached 22 gallons a head during the 1960 calendar year This was equal to the 1956 level but was 6 pints below consumption in the record thirst of 1957.

The New Zealand consumption of 22 gallons a head was only 4} pints below the Australian consumption a head

for the year. Britons drank 18.7 gallons each. £« 4s Tax The tax collector also gained an impressive sum from the beer drinkers. Customs and excise duties during the year brought £ 14.7 m. The average beer tax a head worked oht at £6 4s for the year. In 1956. when New Zealanders drank the same quantity a head (22 gallons), the tax bill was £67m, or £3 2s a head. Australians paid £lO 16s each in tax for their 22.6 gallons in 1960 British residents paid £4 4s in tax a head for their average of 18.7 gallons.