HC Deb 03 August 1978 vol 955 cc620-2W
Sir Bernard Braine

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out in the Official Report the latest information of the per capita consumption of absolute alcohol in the United Kingdom and the other eight member countries of the EEC; and the price relative to personal disposable income.

1974. Mr. Denzil Davies,

pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 31st July 1978], gave the following answer:

The latest information on consumption of alcohol of the kind asked for is contained in "International Statistics on Alcoholic Beverages, Production, Trade and Consumption 1950–1972", published by the Finnish Foundation for Alcoholic Studies and the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe.

The figures for 1972 are:

CONSUMPTION OF PURE ALCOHOL, IN 1972
litres/head
Belgium 9.3
Denmark 7.7
France 16.8
West Germany 11.0
Ireland 6.0
Italy 13.6
Luxembourg 11.5
Netherlands 6.4
United Kingdom 6.9

More recent information in a different form is set out below:

CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC DRINK IN 1976 (pints/head)
Beer Wine Spirits (equivalent pure alcohol)
Belgium 237.0* 27.6 3.4
Denmark 229.3 22.1 3.3
France 86.2 178.3 4.4
West Germany 265.4 41.5 5.0
Ireland 216.5 8.0 3.5
Italy 24.8 175.5 3.5
Luxembourg 225.3 79.7 7.2
Netherlands 147.6 20.0 4.4
United Kingdom 209.2 9.9 2.9
*Provisional.

Source: The Brewers' Society Statistical Handbook 1977.

EXPENDITURE ON ALCOHOLIC DRINK AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL HOUSEHOLD SPENDING IN 1976
Belgium 1.6
Denmark1 not available
France 2.5
West Germany2 2
Ireland3 13.1
Italy 2.5
Luxembourg4 2.0

Netherlands 2.2
United Kingdom 8.0

SOURCE:

ESA National Accounts 1970–1976.

Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Statistical Yearbook 1977 for the Federal Republic of Germany.

NOTES:

1 All beverages and tobacco, 9 per cent.

2 Estimated from the percentage (3.2) for all beverages.

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