SA can’t bear life with no beer

STATISTICS SA: MORE THAN HALF OF HOUSEHOLD SPENDING ON ALCOHOL (54%) GOES TO BEER

Higher percentage of household spending goes to beer than vegetables, tobacco or sweets.

It’s official – South African households spend more on beer than on vegetables, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). Beer accounts for 2.1% of total household spending, higher than the 1.5% spent on vegetables, Stats SA says.

“Many of us enjoy a pint, but have you ever really thought much about the industry and what you spend on your beer?

“Beer has remained relatively flat in terms of price,” Stats SA says.

“Beer inflation – for both rural and urban areas – climbed 0.3% in June 2017 compared with June 2016, way below the overall annual inflation rate of 5%.”

The average price of a single 330ml bottle or can of beer, for example, was R11.86 in June 2017, the same as it cost in January 2017.

“If you prefer to buy in bulk, the average price for a six-pack of 330ml bottles or cans was R61.27 in June 2017, R1.49 cheaper than the price recorded for January.

“This is despite the rise in the sin tax on beer in April.”

However, if you live in the Western Cape, you would have it a bit tougher than those enjoying a glass elsewhere.

“The average price of a 330ml bottle or can in the Western Cape was R13.77 in June 2017, R3.77 more expensive than that recorded for Free State, where beer was the cheapest.”

So how much do South African households spend on the beverage?

The consumer inflation

weights published by Stats SA in December 2016 for the whole country provides some insight into how much beer is consumed at home.

“Beer accounts for 2.1% of total

household spending.

“This is the same as what is spent on personal care (2.1%), but higher than tobacco (1.9%), vegetables (1.5%), sweets and desserts (0.7%) and fruit (0.3%),” it says.

Stats SA measures price changes for three categories of alcoholic drink: beer; wine, which includes red wine, white wine and spirit coolers; and spirits including brandy, whisky, liqueur and vodka.

“Of the three, beer is the most popular.

“Over half of household spending (54%) on alcoholic beverages is devoted to beer.

“Wine and spirit coolers come in second at 25% and then spirits at 21%.”

Now, if you “consider yourself a connoisseur of bourbon or rye”, Stats SA says, “it might come as some comfort to learn that the prices of spirits increased at a slower rate during 2016.

“The prices of spirits, however, rose faster than prices of meat and fuel.

“As a whisky drinker, you stand somewhat apart from the rest of your fellow South Africans. As a nation, we are predominantly beer drinkers.

“If we consider the total amount of money that households spend on alcoholic beverages, just over half is spent on beer and 21% on spirits.”