Beer swilling image shattered

Press, 19 July 1989, Page 8

Beer swilling image shattered

NZPA Sydney It’s official: Australians prefer a good play or concert to a game of footy and are more likely to spend their money on the arts than a cold beer.

The image of Australians as beer-swill-ing sports fanatics has been shattered by statistics which show they spent more than sAust6.6 billion on entertainment excluding sport, alcohol and gambling in 1987-88. The figures, compiled by the Australia Council from official statistics, show more than six million people visited art galleries in 1987-88 and that more people went to the theatre or music concerts than to football matches.

While nearly sAust3.l billion was spent on alcohol, Australians spent more than sAust3.B billion on goods and services supplied by the arts industry.

In the last five years employment in the arts had grown 21 per cent compared with 3.5 per cent generally, said the general manager of the Australia Council, Mr Max Bourke. Australia was also full of readers, getting through more books per capita than any other country in the world.