New figures for UK alcohol consumption in 2011 show that the amount Britons drink has fallen yet again – for the fifth year out of the past seven.
Consumption per head is now 13% lower than it was in 2004 when the current trend began, the BBPA said, which has compiled the new data based on HMRC alcohol tax returns.
The figures confirm trends unveiled yesterday by the Office of National Statistics, which also show that binge drinking is falling across all categories of drinkers, by sex and age. Drinking above weekly guidelines among young men, for example, is down from 32%-21% compared with five years ago.
With beer sales down 3.4% in 2011, it is no time for another sharp rise in the tax on beer, says the BBPA – as the Government intends in the Budget. And alongside a duty freeze, with beer’s share of alcohol sales falling in favour of stronger drinks, it is time to review the way alcohol is taxed.
Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, said: “Total alcohol consumption is now 13% lower per head than in 2004, when this trend began. The Government’s own surveys show the same trends, with good progress in reducing drinking above recommended guidelines.
“The drinks’ industry is working hard with Government and investing in initiatives to tackle alcohol misuse, so as well as the launch new initiatives, we need to acknowledge the progress already made.
“Over 90% of beer containers have unit labelling, and under the Alcohol Responsibility Deal the BBPA has developed a Customer Unit Awareness Campaign for the on-trade.
“We need to draw back from the huge tax rises planned by the Government. These would damage British brewing and pubs, on which almost one million UK jobs depend. Freezing Beer Tax in the Budget would also send a signal that the Government wants to encourage lower strength drinks – as it did last year, with its new lower tax on 2.8% abv beers.”
ONS data released yesterday shows that the percentage of men aged 16-24 who drank more than 21 units per week has fallen from 32% to 21% from 2005 to 2010. For women aged 16-24 drinking more than 14 units per week, the fall was 28% to 18%.
Source: British Beer & Pub Association
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