Younger generations have turned away from alcohol, due to the rise in cost of living and the impact the pandemic had on going-out.
A National Drug Strategy study has shown a noticeable decline in the amount that people aged 14 – 24 drink each year.
Regular drinking has shown a similar trend, decreasing from 8.5 per cent of daily drinkers in 2001 to 5.2 per cent in 2022 – 2023.
Ethan Robinson, 23, highlights how he is less inclined to drink regularly, instead views it as an occasional event within the year
“I go out maybe 10 to 15 times a year and sometimes my friends and I might catch up on occasion…. but probably not weekly,” he said.
Mr Robinson said that the cost of alcohol was a big factor.
“Wages are going up, but not at the rate that alcohol and other goods are going up,” he said.
The ATO increases the rate of tax on alcohol every six months, which follows the rise of inflation rates.
Though the federal government has frozen the rising indexation on drought beer until August 2027, other alcohol prices are still rising, with the average growth for normal beer increasing to 1.18 per cent within the last six months.
Austral Bowling Club worker Jayden Laferla said he has seen a significant impact that this tax rise has caused on the alcohol pricing, with a recent prices rise at end of last year.
“The last price rise for the club was late last year, before then if you weren’t a member it was $6 and if you were $5, but now if you’re a member $6 and if you’re not a member its $9,” he said.
While the the average price of alcohol at the club has risen; Mr Laferia said the club’s board was trying to keep the price as low as possible for its members.
