Apparent Per Capita Ethanol
Consumption -- United States, 1977-1986
Trend data on apparent ethanol consumption by beverage type
reflect long-term alcohol consumption patterns. In 1986, 5.8
billion gallons of beer, 585.3 million gallons of wine, and 394.7
million gallons of spirits were sold in the United States.* For
each person aged greater than or equal to 14 years,** these
amounts represent 29.8 gallons (approximately 318 12-oz. cans) of
beer, 3.0 gallons (77 5-oz. glasses) of wine, and 2.1 gallons
(179 1.5-oz. drinks) of spirits. When volumes of beer, wine, and
spirits are converted into per capita ethanol volume,*** apparent
per capita ethanol consumption in 1986 was: 1.34 gallons of
ethanol for beer, 0.39 gallons of ethanol for wine, and 0.85
gallons of ethanol for spirits.
Apparent per capita consumption of ethanol from all beverages
combined increased annually from 1977 to 1980, leveled in 1980
and 1981, then declined to 2.58 gallons in 1986--a 2.3% decrease
from the 1977 level (Figure 1). Per capita consumption of spirits
decreased over this period from a peak of 1.07 gallons in 1978 to
0.85 gallons in 1986. In contrast, wine consumption increased 0.1
gallons between 1977 and 1986, and beer consumption, 0.05
gallons.
Data for specific states differ from national patterns and
trends in beverage preference and consumption (Figures 2 and 3).
Because nondrinkers as well as drinkers are included in the
denominator from which apparent per capita consumption rates are
calculated, these rates underestimate the average consumption
among persons who drink alcoholic beverages. To adjust for
abstention in per capita consumption, estimates of the percentage
of abstainers in the population are necessary--ideally, from the
same geographic units measured over the same time for which data
on beverage sales are available. Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System data for individual states provided estimates
of the percentage of abstainers in 26 states (Table 1). Excluding
abstainers substantially alters the per capita consumption
ranking of these states.
Reported by: MC Dufour, MD, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse
and Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health
Administration. FS Stinson, PhD, RA Steffens, CG Freel, D Clem,
Alcohol Epidemiology Data System, CSR, Inc, District of Columbia.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: In 1986, the decline in consumption of distilled
spirits in the United States was greater than for any year since
1956, in terms of both actual cases sold and percentage decrease
(2). Per capita consumption of spirits in 1986 was at its lowest
level since 1959 (1).
The decline in spirits consumption may represent changes in the
drinking patterns and preferences in the drinking-aged
population. These changes were reflected by greater interest in
beverages with reduced alcohol content (e.g., "light" beers and
wine coolers), as well as increased public awareness regarding
physical fitness, nutrition, and alcohol abuse (3-5). In 1985,
wine coolers accounted for 17% of the wine market (3) and, in
1986, nearly 25% (2). The increased popularity of wine coolers
through 1986 may have accounted in part for the increases in wine
consumption (5).
Although two thirds of the adult population drink alcoholic
beverages, alcohol consumption is unevenly distributed throughout
the drinking population: 10% of drinkers (6.5% of the adult
population) account for half of all alcohol consumed in the
United States (6). In some southern states, historically low
levels of apparent per capita consumption may have reflected, in
part, the high percentage of abstainers in those states.
References
Doernberg D, Stinson F. US alcohol epidemiologic data
reference manual. Vol 1. US apparent consumption of alcoholic
beverages based on state sales, taxation, or receipt data.
Rockville, Maryland: US Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health
Administration, 1985.
Steffens RA, Stinson FS, Freel CG, Clem D. Apparent per capita
alcohol consumption: national, state, and regional trends,
1977-1986. Rockville, Maryland: US Department of Health and Human
Services, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental
Health Administration, 1988. (Surveillance report no. 10).
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Sixth
special report to the US Congress on alcohol and health from the
Secretary of Health and Human Services. Rockville, Maryland: US
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,
Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, 1987.
*Based on 1986 beverage sales or tax receipt data from 33 states
and the District of Columbia and on production and shipment data
from beverage industry sources in 17 states that do not furnish
data on beverage sales or tax receipts.
**Results from the 1983 Alcohol and Health Practices Survey
indicated that 6.8% of the U.S. drinking population aged greater
than or equal to 18 years started drinking at less than or equal
to 14 years of age (NCHS, unpublished data, 1986).
***Coefficients used to convert beer, wine, and spirits to
ethanol were 0.045 for beer, 0.129 for wine, and 0.414 for
spirits (1).
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