Alcohol consumption down to lowest level for almost 20 years, new figures show
![Alcohol consumption fell again in 2013](/var/wrbm_gb_hospitality/storage/images/_aliases/wrbm_small/5/1/7/4/1074715-1-eng-GB/Alcohol-consumption-down-to-lowest-level-for-almost-20-years-new-figures-show.jpg)
Consumption per head fell to its lowest point in almost two decades, to 7.7 litres. It was the seventh year in the past nine to see a fall - with an 18% decline since 2004.
The last time per head consumption was lower was in 1995, when it stood at 7.5 litres.
Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, said: “We have now experienced a decade of falling alcohol consumption. While total consumption per head is not synonymous with alcohol-related harm, these are interesting figures, as the percentage of those drinking at harmful levels has also been falling, as have the number of under-18s drinking.
“The industry will continue to work to tackle alcohol misuse, but there are several encouraging trends, and accurate and up-to-date figures are important for the debate around alcohol.”
Year | Alcohol consumption (per total population, litres per head) |
1980 | 7.4 |
1990 | 7.9 |
2000 | 8.4 |
2001 | 8.7 |
2002 | 9.1 |
2003 | 9.2 |
2004 | 9.5 |
2005 | 9.3 |
2006 | 9.0 |
2007 | 9.2 |
2008 | 8.9 |
2009 | 8.3 |
2010 | 8.4 |
2011 | 8.2 |
2012 | 7.9 |
2013 | 7.7 |