WELLINGTON, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Alcohol available for consumption in New Zealand plunged 8.3 percent to a record low of 442 million liters in 2025, Stats NZ reported Wednesday, as Kiwis shift to moderation.
Beer volumes fell 10 percent to 265 million liters, 60 percent of the total volume of alcoholic beverages available for consumption, with higher-strength brews above 5 percent ABV (alcohol by volume) dropping 27 percent, said a statement from the statistics department.
"New Zealanders are drinking less, and drinking more moderately," said Dylan Firth, executive director of Brewers Association of New Zealand.
Firth hailed the trend as "long-term behavioral change," noting Kiwis favor mid-strength beers amid economic pressures and rising excise taxes.
Wine fell 11 percent to 85 million liters, while spirits and spirit-based drinks rose 1.3 percent to 93 million liters, Stats NZ said.
Pure alcohol equivalent in all alcoholic beverages declined 7.6 percent, translating to 1.6 standard drinks per day per adult, down 8.4 percent from 2024, which continues to fall as it has for the past five years, it said.
Since 2011, beer and wine shares have shrunk while spirits rose to 21 percent of the total volume of alcoholic beverages available for consumption, statistics showed. ■
