I'll drink to that! perhaps not!

[Murray Fish]

How will this play out on our race courses this season?

Spirits and RTD sales plummet 18% and 12.5%, industry body says

 

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fast facts

• Changes to New Zealand’s drinking culture and tight economic times are having an impact on alcohol sales.
• Data released by Spirits New Zealand on Saturday revealed spirits and RTD sales have plummeted 18% and 12.5%.
• New Zealand chief executive Robert Brewer said Kiwis are not only drinking less but they’re drinking better as well.

Kiwis are drinking less as changes in New Zealand’s drinking culture and tight economic times hit home, an industry body says.

Data released by Spirits New Zealand on Saturday revealed spirits and RTD sales fell by 18% and 12.5% in the 12 months to October.

“Volume data supplied by Customs and Statistics NZ is a primer for what is happening in-market and indicate RTD sales are down across all categories,” Spirits New Zealand chief executive Robert Brewer said.

 

 

“A similar trend is starkly evident in full-strength spirits where data indicates NZ produced spirits volumes are down by 3% and imported spirits down by 19% compared with October last year.”

Changes to New Zealand’s drinking culture and tight economic times are having an impact on alcohol sales.

Brewer said a similar trend with beer and wine sales indicates how Kiwis are not only drinking less but tending to spend less as well.

“Official statistics tell the story with the recently released annual NZ Health survey showing that not only is hazardous drinking coming down but so is drinking overall with more and more young people choosing not to drink,” he said.

“This is further reinforced by Statistics NZ alcohol consumption per capita data which shows a fall of 29% since 1986.”

 

He said the data shows that Kiwis are also drinking more responsibly.

“Hazardous drinking or harmful alcohol consumption among adults over the past four years has also declined to 16.6%. In short we’re not only drinking less but we’re drinking better as well,” he said.

 

 

“Add to this the reported fall in spending in hospitality venues, restaurants and bottle stores and the fall in spirits and RTD volumes should not be surprising.”

Spirits New Zealand was a national trade organisation representing producers, distributors, brand owners, importers and exporters of premium spirits and spirit-based drinks.

- Stuff

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/360531715/spirits-and-rtd-sales-plummet-18-and-125-industry-body-says