[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [BUSINESS]

2 clusters · 3 sources · 23 days · First seen · Last updated

New Zealand alcohol consumption trends

Overview

New Zealand’s per capita alcohol consumption reached a record low of 6.98 litres of pure alcohol for the year ending June 2026, positioning the country among the lowest consumers in the OECD. This reflects a decline of approximately one-third since 2011.

While the overall market is shrinking, beer remains the most popular adult beverage, accounting for 59.7% of consumption in 2026. This share has been largely stable since 2020. Conversely, wine’s market share fell from 23.3% to 19.9% over that same period, with spirits absorbing the difference.

Economic data indicates that beer contributed 36.3% of the NZD 1.246 billion collected in total alcohol excise and import duties. The beer sector is heavily tied to domestic production, with 85% of its NZD 452.1 million in excise generated by locally brewed products, whereas 59% of excise from the spirits market is derived from imported goods.

Entities

New Hampshire · Dylan Firth · Delaware · Statistics New Zealand · Brewers Association of New Zealand

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. 11 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    New Zealand alcohol consumption hits record low

    New Zealand's per capita alcohol consumption has hit a record low, yet beer remains the most popular beverage, accounting for nearly 60% of the shrinking market.

  2. about 1 month ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    New Hampshire and Delaware lead US alcohol consumption rates

    New Hampshire and Delaware report the highest per capita alcohol consumption in the US, driven by tax-free status and low prices that attract out-of-state buyers despite a national decline in drinking.

Sources

restaurantandcafe.co.nz · supermarketnews.co.nz · theshout.co.nz