Per capita alcohol consumption

IBISWorld forecasts per capita alcohol consumption to edge downwards by 1.1% in 2025-26, to 7.60 litres per capita. Increasing health consciousness is expected to drive down alcohol consumption this year, particularly among younger generations. Many are prioritising fitness and choosing beverages with lower alcohol content or even zero-alcohol beers. The alcohol excise tax, which affects both domestically crafted and imported alcoholic beverages like beer, wine and spirits, has been rising, although its growth rate has slowed in recent years. 2023 saw a 6.7% hike in the excise levy, which fell to 4.1% in 2024 and is now in line with CPI, rising 2.5% on July 1st 2025. In 2022, the Central Government (Te Kawanatanga o Aotearoa) introduced an additional levy called the New Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Levy, which aims to minimise alcohol-induced harm and thereby cut down on healthcare expenses. These measures have increased the cost of alcohol, which is likely to curb alcohol consumption.

Beer is the most consumed alcoholic beverage in New Zealand, with a per capita consumption of 2.93 litres of pure alcohol in 2024-25 (latest data available). However, annual per capita beer consumption has been falling over the last decade, down 13.8% compared to 2015. Wine has fallen by the most substantial rate of all alcohol types over the same period, down 27.9% to a total of 2.24 litres of pure alcohol in 2024-25. Total spirit consumption has been falling as well, but only marginally. Spirits with more than 23% alcohol have receded in popularity by about 9.1% over the last decade, including a 13.0% drop in the past five years alone. However, spirits containing less than 23% alcohol have increased in popularity over the past five years, the only category to do so, rising by 8.3%

A significant factor in the contraction of beer and wine consumption has been the change to the drink-driving laws in 2014. The Land Transport Amendment Act (No. 2), enacted in December 2014, lowered the breath alcohol limit for drivers over 20 from 400 micrograms (mcg) per litre of breath to 250mcg. This legislative change discouraged many consumers from drinking out at pubs and bars, which are common locations for beer and wine consumption. Overall, IBISWorld forecasts per capita alcohol consumption to slump at a compound annual rate of 2.8% over the five years through 2025-26.