Australia: Alcohol consumption lowest in more than 55 years

Australia's love affair with drinking is waning, according to official figures that show alcohol consumption has fallen to levels not seen since the early 1960s, the Voice of America reported on November 29.

The decline has been led by a fall in beer sales and by a cultural shift against alcohol by younger people. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates a fifth of the population are teetotallers.

Alcohol consumption in fun-loving Australia is at its lowest in more than 55 years.

Beer, wine and spirits are still a big part of life here, but in a land with a boozy reputation, it is health-conscious young people who are drinking less.

Professor Ian Hickie, who is in his 50s, of the Brain and Mind Center at the University of Sydney, says there has been a significant cultural shift away from drinking.

"There are some interesting changes in alcohol consumption in Australia, particularly among young people," he said. "So a decade ago, 15 years ago, we had a major upswing in binge drinking and alcohol-related harm in younger populations, particularly under the age of 25 — really major problems. Over the last decade, we have progressively seen less binge drinking, less actually persistent alcohol-related risk amongst younger people."

But Hickie said sadly, people of his age "have continued on largely with their behavior that they have had."

Australia's tastes are changing. Small craft brewers say beer made with native ingredients is becoming more popular as drinkers choose quality over quantity.

Kerrie Abba, co-owner of the Nomad Brewing Company in Sydney, is seeing a more mature approach to alcohol consumption, with people "drinking less but drinking better."

"Instead of taking their A$30 into a pub and saying 'I want to get as many beers as I can out of this', they are actually saying 'I want to have the best experience that I can. ... I might only get two beers out of this, but I'm going to have an experience, I'm going to taste something, I'm going to hear a story, I'm going to be transported by this beer.'"