AUSTRALIAN TASTES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1926, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN TASTES

DRTNTv CONSUMPTION. SYDNEY, Juno 10. For many years Australians were the champion ten drinkers of the world, or at least of the white races, hut in recent years their rate of consumption has been eclipsed by the people of Great Britain. According To calculations made by the Commonwealth Statistician’s office, Australia’s consumption of tea, which averaged 7.251 b per head per annum for the ton years 1904-13. reached Sib during 1914-21, and since then has declined to 7.SHh. The tea consumption of Glreat Britain is now 9.641 b per head, having risen from 8.4211) in 1919, and from 6.651 b in 1913. The increase is due to the female invasion of the commercial world, which is more pronounced in England than in Australia. Wherever woman is employed she endeavours to introduce the morning or afternoon tea habit.

The consumption of alcoholic liquors in Australia shows only small variations in recent years. The amount of beer consumed shows some reduction, but the amount of wine remains unchanged. and spirits, which fell slightly during thp yeai*s 1921-22-23, have since slightly increased. In the year for which latest figures are available, 192324, the consumption of spirits per head of the population was 0.43 gallons, of wine 0.50 gallons, and of beer 11.08 gallons. It has been computed that the very moderate drinker who consumes a pint of beer each day of the year, excluding Sundays, consumes 39 gallons, or over 2J times more than his proper share on a population basis.

It illustrates that the number of teetotallers in Australia is greatly underestimated, for there are many, who consider themselves moderate drinkers, yet who consume more than the pint per day mentioned. TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES.

11l tho consumption of tobacco the Australians are temperate compared with the Americans. Tho Australian consumption increased from 2 2-3 lb per head in 1914 to 3Jlb in 1924, some of the increase being due to the increase of women cigarette-smokers. Tho consumption of tobacco in the United States is Gib per head and in Great Britain 4Jlb. The Australian lias a sweet tooth, judging by the amount of sugar he consumes. The rate of consumption has remained steady at 1171 b per head cadi year, this being far above the British consumption of 851 b, and more even than tho 10111) of the United States, where chocolate, candy, and sweet drinks account for much sugar. Australians have still tho reputation of being large meat eaters, hut consumption has decreased from the 1211 b of lieef per head and S3lb of mutton in the ten years 1901-13 to the most recent figures of HOlb of beef and 691 b of mutton. Increased prices since the war are said to be responsible for the decrease.