Coopers Brewery, one of Australia’s remaining independent commercial beer producers, has managed to increase its yearly profits despite dropping beer consumption amongst Australians.
Coopers after-tax profits for the financial year ending the 30 June 2015 increased by 3.2 per cent to a record AUD$28.9 million The company’s packaged beer sales increased despite its draught beer sales dropping to the worse it has been since 2009.
Less Australians drinking beer
Australia’s beer consumption levels have dropped to what they were in 1972.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) , beer drinking is at a 68 year low. Decades ago beer made up three quarters of alcoholic beverages consumed in Australia but current figures show that it only accounts for less than 41 per cent of alcoholic beverages consumed.
When Australians do drink beer Louise Gates from the ABS says they are choosing to drink mid-strength at the cost of low-strength beers.
“Over the past decade we have seen the popularity of mid strength beer grow at the expense of low strength beer,” Gates said in May 2015.
Overall alcohol levels drop too
The ABS has also reported that apparent overall alcohol consumption in Australia is at a 50 year low.
“Across all alcoholic beverages, there were 9.7 litres of pure alcohol available for consumption in 2013-14 for every person in Australia aged 15 years and over,” said Gates again back in May 2015.
“The pattern of alcohol consumption has changed significantly over this period,” said Gates.
“Spirits including Ready to Drink (pre-mixed beverages) increased from 13 per cent of all pure alcohol consumed in 1963-64 to 19 per cent in 2013-14. Cider accounted for a small but growing proportion, at two per cent in 2013-14,” Gates stated.
