Australians are drinking less alcohol

For thousands of years, fermented grain, fruit, and honey has been used to make alcoholic beverages that humans can drink. There are some evolutionary theorists who argue that the drinking of alcohol could not have evolved independently in so many cultures if it were completely maladaptive. However, we also know that too much alcohol is a bad thing for body and soul and “too much” doesn’t have to be very much. That is why a new study showing that alcohol consumption in Australia is declining is a good thing.

As a quick background to alcohol, it is worth knowing that the production if alcohol is not as easy as it might seem. Yes, production of alcohol only requires fermentation, by which sugar is transformed by the action of yeast to produce ethyl alcohol. Sugars, in the form of glucose, fructose, maltose and lactose are obtainable from honey, fruits, sprouting grains and milk, producing in turn, mead, wine, beer and koumish (milchsnapps). The availability of such sugars however, should not be taken for granted. For instance, the wild European grapes of Vitis sylvestris contain too little sugar to ferment naturally, whereas the highly cultivated modern varieties of Vitis vinifera have plenty of sugar available. Nevertheless, the first documented evidence of alcohol production comes from around 3200 BCE, meaning humans have been doing it for a long time. Is alcohol consumption, though, on the wane?

As of 2013–14, per capita alcohol consumption had reached its lowest levels since the 1960s.

In a new study, researchers analysed the drinking habits of 124,400 Australians aged 14 to 79 years. The survey took place over an 18-year period and found not only that drinking rates are declining but also two reasons why.

We know that drinking among Australians tends to peak in middle age (40–60 years) and then in the 60s and 70s consumption starts to ease up. We also know that as of 2013–14 per capita alcohol consumption had reached its lowest levels since the 1960s. The researchers found that there are two drivers of this.

The first is that phenomenon of heavier drinking age groups progressing into older age. Of course, that would not be having an effect if the following cohorts were following the same drinking pattern; but they are not. The big finding of the survey was that for Australians born in the 1990s there is a significant shift away from alcohol drinking.

It is possible that for this generation other substances are replacing alcohol, but it may also be that this generation is more aware of health. Further investigation is needed but the drop off in alcohol consumption may be a positive opportunity for generational change.