N.Z. lags in drinking

Press, 21 August 1976, Page 5

N.Z. lags in drinking

I PA Wellington New Zealand comes about half-way down the world total in terms of alcoholic consumption. According to latest world figures released today by the National Soriety for Allohol and Drug Dependence, New Zealand in 1970 consumed 11-2 litres of absolute alcohol per capita. Heading New Zealand were France with the highest consumption, 23.98, followed by Italy, •Spain, Luxemburg, West Germany, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, • and Australia.

Below New Zealand in order were East Germany, Yugoslavia, the United States, Denmark, Canada, Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands. Poland, Ireland, and Finland. At the bottom was Norway, with 4.37 litres.

According to the latest New Zealand figures, the total consumption in 1974 in New Zealand was 383.994.000 litres of beer, 8,952.000 litres of proof spirits, and 27,619,000 litres of wine. The average consumption per head of population over 15 was 181.7 litres of beer, 4.24 litres of proof spirit, and 13.07 litres of wine. In terms of absolute alcohol, New Zealand’s drinking population consumed 14,591,772 litres of beer, 5,105,218 litres of spirits, and 4,142,850 litres of wine.

Since 1970. the drinking population of New Zealand has increased its consumption from 8.3 litres of absolute alcohol per capita to 11.26 litres. The percentage of annual disposable income required to purchase that amount of alcohol was 2.5 per cent. In comparison

with some overseas countries, the price of alcohol in comparison to disposable income is relatively low in New Zealand.

Mr Ray Johnston, president of the National Society on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, is concerned about the cheapness of local wine, particularly fortified sherries which contribute considerably to New Zealand’s alcohol problems.

He believes the New Zealand wine industry has grown up enough to cope without Government aid, and should be subject to excise tax.

Sherry is the cheapest percentage of annual disposable income in New Zealand at 2.5 per cent, compared with 3.7 per cent for beer, 5.3 per cent for New Zealand whisky, and 6.4 per cent for imported whisky.