DRINK IN N.S.W.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 28

DRINK IN N.S.W.

A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, September 12,

The people of New South Wales are drinking more and more intoxicants. Not only is-the total consumption growing, in keeping with the increasing population, but the consumption per capita is also mounting substantially.

Official figures show that, during the last statistical year, New South Wales spent £14,870,0.00 on intoxicants, an increase of £ 1,230,000 on the preceding year. The expenditure was equivalent to £5 10s 4d per head of population, or 8s Id more. The total expenditure has grown progressively from £10,620,000 in 1932^ last year's increase being the largest for any one year in the six years' period. Consumption per head has grown from £4 2s 4d since 1932, the per capita increase also being the largest for any year in that period.

Last year's consumption included 28,881,000 gallons of beer, 824,110 gallons of spirits, and 1,663,971 gallons of wine, the increases over the preceding year being 2,663,000, 38,198 and 22,144 gallons respectively.

An analysis of the statistical returns leads to the conclusion that, providing New South Wales's habits are indicative of the national tastes, Australians are becoming a nation of beer-drinkers. The New South Wales figures show that, while beer consumption increased by 60 per cent, in the last six years, the consumption of spirits increased by about 35 per cent, and that of wine by about 31 per cent.