
Most read
‘Optimistic borrowers’ could endanger housing market, RBA says...
‘Optimistic borrowers’ could endanger housing market, RBA says...

Latest Podcast
Home values up 30% (or are they); NFTs taking the world by storm, and why Keatin...
Home values up 30% (or are they); NFTs taking the world by storm, and why Keatin...

Resources
There is $17.5 billion in lost and unclaimed super across ...
There is $17.5 billion in lost and unclaimed super across ...
Invest
Alcohol industry did not profit from the pandemic as was predicted
The COVID-19 pandemic was not the win for alcohol distilleries as previously predicted, with widespread fears about soaring alcohol consumption now proven baseless, new research has found.

Alcohol industry did not profit from the pandemic as was predicted
The COVID-19 pandemic was not the win for alcohol distilleries as previously predicted, with widespread fears about soaring alcohol consumption now proven baseless, new research has found.

Experts predicted panic buying in liquor stores and screenshots of Zoom happy hours, in the early part of the COVID lockdown, were signs that Aussies were increasing their alcohol consumption.
However, poll data released by Roy Morgan has shown that alcohol consumption continued to fall in 2020.
In fact, back in 2006, when Roy Morgan began collecting this data, 73.5 per cent of Australians enjoyed a drink in an average four-week period. In the 12 months to September 2020, that was down to 66.4 per cent.
“There was a lot of hypothesising about the changes to various purchasing and consumption habits that might result from the pandemic,” Michele Levine, Roy Morgan’s CEO, said.
“Our data shows the dire warnings about huge rises in the level of alcohol consumption fall into that category.”
On the other hand, online retail sales boomed, reaching $15.6 billion in 2020, a 26.7 per cent increase on 2019.
According to Ms Levine, online sales came about as a result of consumers changing their drinking habits.
“There are two factors at play here, one obvious, one less so. First, people might not have been drinking more, but they were certainly drinking differently, with the option to go out to bars or have wine over dinner much reduced or simply not available to millions of people for months at a time.”
“The less obvious factor is the move towards premiumisation we’ve seen among the high-spending group of ‘NEO consumers’ identified in our research. This significant part of the population isn’t drinking more, in fact many are drinking less, but they are spending more on higher quality product,” Ms Levine concluded.
About the author

About the author


Spending
Energy prices fall – how you can cash in on the $900m saving
Households are being urged to check the price they are paying for electricity after it was revealed that prices across the eastern seaboard have fallen significantly in the back half of 2020, official...Read more

Spending
Aussies choose to shop local in pandemic recovery
Australians are increasingly turning their attention to homegrown businesses and brands as they look to help the country recover from its first economic downturn in nearly three decades, new research ...Read more

Spending
Awareness of BNPL surges as consumers look for alternative credit
Consumer awareness of buy now, pay later services, including AfterPay and Zip, continues to grow as Aussies look for alternative ways to make purchases. ...Read more

Spending
Tap for Uber, share bike in world-first trial
The NSW government has announced that thousands of Sydney commuters will be able to pay for various modes of transportation through their Opal cards, receiving discounts in the process. ...Read more

Spending
‘Ultra-desirable’ Holden Torana up for auction
A piece of Holden motoring history is up for grabs this weekend, with nostalgic investors likely to spend upwards of $200,000 to secure the rare car. ...Read more

Spending
CBA takes on BNPL sector
The big four bank has launched a new buy-now-pay-later service in a bid to take on established players in the lucrative industry. ...Read more

Spending
New car sales soar but EVs are left behind
Despite Australian consumers continuing to purchase new vehicles, EV sales have remained stagnant, new research has revealed. ...Read more

Spending
Consumer advocates hit back at self-regulated BNPL code of practice
The long-awaited buy now, pay later code of practice is set to come into effect from 1 March, but industry experts remain sceptical of the self-enforced rules. ...Read more

Home values up 30% (or are they); NFTs taking the world by storm, and why Keating thinks Aussies will be ‘poor’ in retirement
Listen now

Raging floods, the tech stock bubble and the ongoing SG debate
Listen now

Meet the Manager with Trilogy’s Philip Ryan: RBA rates and property price growth
Listen now

The continued property boom, ethical investing and engaging with your super fund
Listen now

Spending
Energy prices fall – how you can cash in on the $900m saving
Households are being urged to check the price they are paying for electricity after it was revealed that prices across the eastern seaboard have fallen significantly in the back half of 2020, official...Read more

Spending
Aussies choose to shop local in pandemic recovery
Australians are increasingly turning their attention to homegrown businesses and brands as they look to help the country recover from its first economic downturn in nearly three decades, new research ...Read more

Spending
Awareness of BNPL surges as consumers look for alternative credit
Consumer awareness of buy now, pay later services, including AfterPay and Zip, continues to grow as Aussies look for alternative ways to make purchases. ...Read more

Spending
Tap for Uber, share bike in world-first trial
The NSW government has announced that thousands of Sydney commuters will be able to pay for various modes of transportation through their Opal cards, receiving discounts in the process. ...Read more

Spending
‘Ultra-desirable’ Holden Torana up for auction
A piece of Holden motoring history is up for grabs this weekend, with nostalgic investors likely to spend upwards of $200,000 to secure the rare car. ...Read more

Spending
CBA takes on BNPL sector
The big four bank has launched a new buy-now-pay-later service in a bid to take on established players in the lucrative industry. ...Read more

Spending
New car sales soar but EVs are left behind
Despite Australian consumers continuing to purchase new vehicles, EV sales have remained stagnant, new research has revealed. ...Read more

Spending
Consumer advocates hit back at self-regulated BNPL code of practice
The long-awaited buy now, pay later code of practice is set to come into effect from 1 March, but industry experts remain sceptical of the self-enforced rules. ...Read more