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06-05-2022, 07:53
Visit the Shut up about Barclay Perkins site (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2022/05/uk-alcohol-consumption-1960-1979-litres.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pDfLUIN20n1hDUtTGXYamU2IXVTYvrmflqTj55_BAx d0GPZKCtwlY8N-lblalvsi3jo5zjuxMnuOKLTU9HHr74p_tNR93oM7jJZHELX77A fpqqJORbUBqGLPri3zPG1VxoAmsIbj4HsbECfofkMuj0VgUkW-GMKoQt16X3Mk6d9FJStuVi5qwqLs/s320/Tetleys_Family_Ale_1964.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pDfLUIN20n1hDUtTGXYamU2IXVTYvrmflqTj55_BAx d0GPZKCtwlY8N-lblalvsi3jo5zjuxMnuOKLTU9HHr74p_tNR93oM7jJZHELX77A fpqqJORbUBqGLPri3zPG1VxoAmsIbj4HsbECfofkMuj0VgUkW-GMKoQt16X3Mk6d9FJStuVi5qwqLs/s605/Tetleys_Family_Ale_1964.jpg)
Continuing on from the last, here's a look at UK beer consumption over another 20 years. Though I haven't just picked the dates because they cover a neat period of two decades.
1960 was the year consumption increased for the first time after a long post-WW II decline. And 1979 is the last year it increased. From 1980 onwards another long period of decline began. One which still hasn't ended.
It's fascinating - though surely a coincidence - that the 1979 peak is almost exactly the same as that of 1914 (125.06 litres), the date after which the long, slow 20th-century decline kicked off.
Beer consumption increased by 43% between 1960 and 1979. Which is pretty impressive. But pales into insignificance compared to other alcoholic drinks. Cider consumption rose by 138%, spirits by 171% and wine by 252%. Clearly beer was in reality faring relatively badly.
I'm particularly intrigued by consumption of all drinks trending upwards during the 1970s, which were quite tough times, economically. With unemployment on the rise, why did the increase in beer consumption not stall?
UK alcohol consumption 1960 - 1979 (litres)
Year
spirits
wine
beer
cider
1960
0.7
2.3
86.1
1.6
1961
0.8
2.4
89.2
1.7
1962
0.8
2.5
88.6
1.6
1963
0.8
2.8
89
1.6
1964
0.9
3.1
92.6
1.6
1965
0.8
3
91.9
1.7
1966
0.8
3.1
93.7
1.8
1967
0.8
3.4
94.8
2.1
1968
0.9
3.8
96.6
2.1
1969
0.8
3.7
100.4
2.4
1970
0.9
3.7
103
2.6
1971
1
4.4
106.2
2.6
1972
1.1
5
107.6
2.6
1973
1.4
6.3
113.3
2.8
1974
1.5
6.7
116.1
2.8
1975
1.5
6.3
118.5
3.3
1976
1.6
6.5
120.7
3.8
1977
1.4
6.3
119.1
3.6
1978
1.7
7.5
121.3
3.7
1979
1.9
8.1
123.4
3.8
Source:
Brewers Society Statistical Handbook 1990, page 34.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2022/05/uk-alcohol-consumption-1960-1979-litres.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pDfLUIN20n1hDUtTGXYamU2IXVTYvrmflqTj55_BAx d0GPZKCtwlY8N-lblalvsi3jo5zjuxMnuOKLTU9HHr74p_tNR93oM7jJZHELX77A fpqqJORbUBqGLPri3zPG1VxoAmsIbj4HsbECfofkMuj0VgUkW-GMKoQt16X3Mk6d9FJStuVi5qwqLs/s320/Tetleys_Family_Ale_1964.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pDfLUIN20n1hDUtTGXYamU2IXVTYvrmflqTj55_BAx d0GPZKCtwlY8N-lblalvsi3jo5zjuxMnuOKLTU9HHr74p_tNR93oM7jJZHELX77A fpqqJORbUBqGLPri3zPG1VxoAmsIbj4HsbECfofkMuj0VgUkW-GMKoQt16X3Mk6d9FJStuVi5qwqLs/s605/Tetleys_Family_Ale_1964.jpg)
Continuing on from the last, here's a look at UK beer consumption over another 20 years. Though I haven't just picked the dates because they cover a neat period of two decades.
1960 was the year consumption increased for the first time after a long post-WW II decline. And 1979 is the last year it increased. From 1980 onwards another long period of decline began. One which still hasn't ended.
It's fascinating - though surely a coincidence - that the 1979 peak is almost exactly the same as that of 1914 (125.06 litres), the date after which the long, slow 20th-century decline kicked off.
Beer consumption increased by 43% between 1960 and 1979. Which is pretty impressive. But pales into insignificance compared to other alcoholic drinks. Cider consumption rose by 138%, spirits by 171% and wine by 252%. Clearly beer was in reality faring relatively badly.
I'm particularly intrigued by consumption of all drinks trending upwards during the 1970s, which were quite tough times, economically. With unemployment on the rise, why did the increase in beer consumption not stall?
UK alcohol consumption 1960 - 1979 (litres)
Year
spirits
wine
beer
cider
1960
0.7
2.3
86.1
1.6
1961
0.8
2.4
89.2
1.7
1962
0.8
2.5
88.6
1.6
1963
0.8
2.8
89
1.6
1964
0.9
3.1
92.6
1.6
1965
0.8
3
91.9
1.7
1966
0.8
3.1
93.7
1.8
1967
0.8
3.4
94.8
2.1
1968
0.9
3.8
96.6
2.1
1969
0.8
3.7
100.4
2.4
1970
0.9
3.7
103
2.6
1971
1
4.4
106.2
2.6
1972
1.1
5
107.6
2.6
1973
1.4
6.3
113.3
2.8
1974
1.5
6.7
116.1
2.8
1975
1.5
6.3
118.5
3.3
1976
1.6
6.5
120.7
3.8
1977
1.4
6.3
119.1
3.6
1978
1.7
7.5
121.3
3.7
1979
1.9
8.1
123.4
3.8
Source:
Brewers Society Statistical Handbook 1990, page 34.
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2022/05/uk-alcohol-consumption-1960-1979-litres.html)