Norway: Each Norwegian drank on average almost 52 litres of beer during the first nine months of 2004, Statistics Norway posted on December 13, 2004. This is 5 litres more than during the same period last year. Norwegians drank in all almost 190 million litres of beer.

The recorded consumption of beer increased by 8.2 per cent the 3r d quarter 2004 compared with the 3r d quarter last year. Norwegians drank on average 1.7 litres of alcopops during the first nine months of 2004. After the strong increase in consumption of alcopops recorded in 2003 the consumption has decreased. The decrease came to 2.17 litres compared with the same period in 2003.

The figures are calculated on the basis of registered import and figures reported to the Directorate of Customs and Excise (TAD) by businesses that pay tax on alcohol sales. The figures do not include Norwegian citizens' purchase of alcohol abroad. Average consumption per capita is estimated for inhabitants of Norway 15 years and older.

Measured in pure alcohol, each Norwegian drank 4.5 litres of alcohol during the first nine months this year. This is an increase of 0.15 litres or 3.5 per cent compared with the same period 2003. The registered consumption of pure alcohol in this period was 16,5million litres, divided among 8.2 million litres of beer, 4.9 million litres of wine, 3.0 million litres of spirits and 0.3 million litres of alcopops.

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