Mason Delacroix
Alcohol consumption in Australia has been a topic of interest for various organisations, including the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the World Health Organization, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australia has a relatively high apparent annual alcohol consumption rate per capita when compared to other developed countries. In 2019, there were 208.8 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption, equating to around 10 litres per capita. This represents a slight decrease from previous years, with per capita consumption peaking in 1974-1976 at 13.1 litres. The National Health and Medical Research Council has issued guidelines to reduce health risks associated with alcohol consumption, recommending no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. Despite this, more than one in four Australian adults exceeded these guidelines in 2022, with young adults aged 18-24 being the most likely to do so. When compared to other countries, Australia's per capita alcohol consumption places it in the higher range, with countries like Latvia, Uganda, and Germany consuming higher amounts of pure alcohol per capita.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ranking of countries by alcohol consumption per capita (data from 2025) | N/A |
| Per capita consumption in 2017-18 | 9.51 litres of pure alcohol for each person aged 15 years and over |
| Per capita consumption in 2018 | 9.51 litres of pure alcohol for each person aged 15 years and over |
| Per capita consumption in 2019-20 | 10 litres per capita |
| Per capita consumption in 1974-76 | 13.1 litres |
| Per capita consumption in 1974-75 | 13.1 litres |
| Per capita consumption in 2006-07 | 10.8 litres per capita |
| Per capita consumption in 2017-18 | 9.5 litres per capita |
| Per capita consumption in 2018-19 | 10.78 litres |
| Per capita consumption in 2019-20 | 208.8 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption in Australia |
| Per capita consumption in 2018-19 | 210.3 million litres |
| Adults aged 18 years and over who exceeded the Australian Adult Alcohol Guideline in 2022 | 26.8% or 5.2 million |
| Adults aged 18–24 years who exceeded the Australian Adult Alcohol Guideline in 2022 | 36.1% |
| Adults aged 55–64 years who consumed more than 10 standard drinks in the last week | 24.6% |
| Adults aged 65–74 years who consumed more than 10 standard drinks in the last week | 21.6% |
| Average household spending on alcohol per week | $32 |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's rank by alcohol consumption per capita
Australia has a relatively high per capita alcohol consumption rate compared to other developed countries. The country's per capita alcohol consumption has been decreasing over the years. In 2019-20, there were 208.8 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption in Australia, which equates to around 10 litres per capita. This is a slight decrease from 210.3 million litres in 2018-19. In 2017-18, per capita alcohol consumption was 9.5 litres, a decrease from 10.8 litres in 2006-07. In 1974-76, per capita alcohol consumption in Australia peaked at 13.1 litres.
The Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol recommend that healthy men and women drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. However, in 2022, more than one in four (26.8%) adults aged 18 and over exceeded this guideline. Males were more likely to exceed the guideline than females (35.8% compared to 18.1%). Young adults aged 18-24 were the age group most likely to exceed the guideline, with over one in three (36.1%) doing so.
According to a 2024 World Health Organization report, the WHO European Region and the Region of the Americas had the highest alcohol consumption rates, with 9.2 litres and 7.5 litres per capita, respectively. The total consumption was estimated using data from government sources, economic operators, and FAOSTAT data. Unfortunately, I could not find Australia's exact ranking among other countries in terms of alcohol consumption per capita. However, given the high per capita consumption figures and the fact that the most recent data for developed countries showed a range of 6.0-11.7 litres per capita, it is likely that Australia ranks relatively high on the list.
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Alcohol-attributable cancers
Australia's alcohol consumption per capita has decreased from 10.78 litres in 1968 to 9.51 litres in 2018 for people aged 15 years and older. The per capita consumption of wine and spirits has increased during this period, while beer consumption has decreased. In 2019–20, there were 208.8 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption in Australia, which equates to around 10 litres per capita. Wine accounted for the largest proportion of apparent alcohol consumption (42%), followed by beer (35%) and spirits (21%).
While the overall trend in Australia shows a decrease in alcohol consumption, excessive drinking still poses significant health risks, including an increased risk of various cancers. Alcohol is a chemical substance found in alcoholic beverages, primarily known as ethanol or ethyl alcohol. Alcohol consumption has been linked to an elevated risk of specific cancers, making it a crucial health concern. According to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), healthy men and women should not exceed 10 standard drinks per week and should limit themselves to no more than 4 standard drinks on any given day. The NHMRC guidelines emphasise that reducing alcohol intake lowers the chances of harm from alcohol-related conditions.
The link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk has been supported by various studies and reports. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine estimated that there could have been 16,803 fewer alcohol-attributable cancer deaths per year if adults had adhered to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025. Liver cancer accounted for the highest number and percentage of preventable deaths among men, while breast cancer was the leading preventable cause of death among women. Additionally, the American Association for Cancer Research's Cancer Progress Report highlighted a decline in cancer death rates while still underscoring alcohol as a lesser-known risk factor.
To address the health risks associated with alcohol, public awareness campaigns and effective clinical strategies are essential. This includes considering cancer-specific warning labels on alcoholic beverages and implementing measures to reduce the burden of alcohol-related cancers. While alcohol consumption has decreased in Australia, excessive drinking remains prevalent, and addressing this issue can significantly impact the prevention of alcohol-attributable cancers.
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Per capita consumption trends
The per capita consumption of alcohol in Australia has shown a general decline since the early 1960s, when it stood at 10.78 litres per person aged 15 and above. It peaked in 1974-76 at 13.1 litres per capita, and since then, there has been a consistent decrease in consumption. The per capita consumption in 2017-18 was 9.51 litres, a slight increase from 9.48 litres in 2016-17, but the overall trend over the last decade reveals a 1.1% annual decline.
The per capita consumption of pure alcohol in Australia in 2019-20 was 10 litres, a slight decrease from 10.3 litres in 2018-19. This figure has remained relatively stable over the past decade.
The 2022 National Health Survey revealed that 26.8% of adults aged 18 and above exceeded the recommended alcohol consumption guidelines. This includes those who consumed more than 10 drinks in the previous week and/or drank 5 or more drinks on any day at least once a month in the past year. Males were more likely to exceed these guidelines than females (35.8% compared to 18.1%). Young adults aged 18-24 were the most likely age group to exceed the guidelines, with 36.1% doing so in 2022.
In terms of beverage type, wine accounted for the largest proportion of alcohol consumption in 2019-20, making up 42% of all available alcohol, followed by beer (35%) and spirits (21%). Beer consumption has been steadily declining since the 1970s, dropping from 9.2 litres per capita in 1974-75 to 3.5 litres per capita in 2019-20. Conversely, the consumption of spirits has fluctuated, with a recent increase from 1.8 litres per capita in 2016-17 to 2.1 litres per capita in 2019-20, the highest level since 2007-08.
When compared to other developed countries, Australia has a relatively high apparent annual alcohol consumption rate per capita. In 2024, the World Health Organization reported that the WHO European Region had the highest consumption at 9.2 litres, followed by the Region of the Americas at 7.5 litres.
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Alcohol consumption by beverage type
Alcohol consumption in Australia is widespread and is associated with many social and cultural activities. It is a major cause of preventable disease, illness, and death in the country. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released guidelines in December 2020 to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol. According to the guidelines, healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day.
In 2019–2020, there were 208.8 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption in Australia, which equates to around 10 litres per capita (for the Australian population aged 15 and over). This has remained stable over the past decade. During this period, wine accounted for the largest proportion of apparent alcohol consumption (42%), followed by beer (35%) and spirits (21%).
Wine consumption has been on the rise since the 1960s, with a slight dip between 2018–19 and 2019–20, when it decreased from 90.4 to 87 million litres of pure alcohol (or 4.4 to 4.2 litres per capita). Beer consumption, on the other hand, has been steadily declining since its peak in the 1970s. Between 1974–75 and 2019–20, beer consumption decreased from 92.2 to 72.4 million litres of pure alcohol (or 9.2 to 3.5 litres per capita).
The consumption of spirits has fluctuated over time. Between 2016–17 and 2019–20, spirit consumption rose from 35.4 to 44.2 million litres of pure alcohol (or 1.8 to 2.1 litres per capita), reaching its highest level since 2007–08. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the availability of spirits increased by 17%, from 2.1 litres per capita to 2.5 litres per capita between 2019–20 and 2020–21.
In terms of household spending, Australian households spent an average of $32 on alcoholic beverages per week between 2009–10 and 2015–16. More recent data from 2022 shows that more than one in four (26.8%) adults aged 18 and over exceeded the NHMRC guidelines by consuming more than 10 drinks in the previous week and/or 5 or more drinks on any day at least monthly in the last 12 months. Males were more likely to exceed the guidelines than females (35.8% vs 18.1%), and young adults aged 18–24 were the age group most likely to exceed the recommendations.
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Alcohol consumption by age
Alcohol consumption in Australia has remained relatively stable over the past decade. In 2019–20, there were 208.8 million litres of pure alcohol available for consumption, which equates to around 10 litres per capita aged 15 and over. This figure has slightly decreased from 210.3 million litres in 2018–19. Wine accounted for the largest proportion of alcohol consumption at 42%, followed by beer at 35% and spirits at 21%. While wine consumption has decreased, the consumption of spirits has been fluctuating and is currently at its highest level since 2007–08. Beer consumption, on the other hand, has steadily declined since the 1970s.
According to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), healthy men and women should drink no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm. Despite these guidelines, more than one in four adults aged 18 and over (26.8%) exceeded this recommendation in 2022. Males were more likely to exceed the guideline than females (35.8% compared to 18.1%). Young adults aged 18–24 years were the most likely age group to exceed the guideline, with over one in three (36.1%) doing so. Interestingly, consumption peaked in later years, with one in four people aged 55–64 years and one in five people aged 65–74 years consuming more than 10 standard drinks in the previous week.
The 2022–2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) found that the majority of people in Australia aged 14 and older have consumed alcohol in their lifetime. Specifically, 77% had consumed alcohol in the previous 12 months. Daily drinking was found to be higher among men (6.7%) than women (3.7%). Additionally, people living in Remote, very remote, and Outer regional areas of Australia are about 1.4 times more likely to consume alcohol at risky levels compared to those in Major cities.
Alcohol-induced deaths were also examined, with the highest age-specific rates occurring in older individuals. The majority of these deaths (71%) were recorded for males, and the most common associated cause was liver disease, followed by mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has a relatively high annual alcohol consumption rate per capita compared with other developed countries. The most recent data places the country's consumption at 9.5 litres per capita, down from 9.75 litres in 2017-18.
The latest data shows that in 2019-20, there were 10 litres of alcohol available for consumption per capita in Australia. This figure has remained stable over the past decade.
Australia's peak alcohol consumption per capita was 13.1 litres in 1974-75.
In 2025, Latvia, Uganda, Germany, Austria, Seychelles, Bulgaria, and Lithuania all had higher per capita alcohol consumption than Australia.
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