'Young people aren't drinking anything like we used to': Alcohol intake at record lows
New Zealand has reached record low levels of alcohol consumption, with per capita intake falling below 6 litres of pure alcohol. Hospitality businesses are struggling with closures, though some attribute the shift to changing social habits among younger generations.
Why it matters
The decline in alcohol consumption reflects a broader cultural shift in social behavior and poses significant economic challenges for the hospitality industry.
This story has been updated to correct the total available alcohol consumption figure and attribute that this is among the lowest of all OECD countries
Hospitality businesses in Christchurch have pointed to changing habits among young people as a factor amid record low levels of alcohol consumption.
Stats NZ reported total available alcohol consumption per capita fell to below 6 litres of pure alcohol for the year ending June for the first time.
New Zealand's per capita consumption now sat among the lowest of all OECD countries, according to the Brewers Association of New Zealand.
It comes at a time when hospitality businesses were struggling although there was confidence further south that the Garden City was potentially bucking national trends.
Over 420 hospitality companies entered liquidation in the past year, a 42 percent jump on the previous 12 months.
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