Despite the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) creating headlines with a recommendation to consume no more than 10 drinks a week to reduce your risk of harm from alcohol, new analysis has revealed Australian drinkers could consume up to 28 drinks a...
Respect the craft and help an industry recover this festive season
Australia’s leading winemakers, brewers, distillers and the people who sell and serve their drinks are urging Australians to experience the best they have to offer as part of the nation’s Christmas and New Year celebrations. Alcohol Beverages Australia CEO...
More facts on drinking behaviour during COVID
University of NSW has belled the cat on claims Australians have been consuming alcohol to excess during the pandemic restrictions, by finding two thirds of people either decreased or made no change to their drinking habits. The research can calm the hysteria of those...
ABA Welcomes VIC hospitality decision
Statement by Andrew Wilsmore, CEO, Alcohol Beverages Australia ___ “Finally, Australia is seeing some long-awaited reform in the hospitality sector, more than 20 years after COAG recommended States and Territories achieve a nationally recognised Responsible Service of...
ABA welcomes Tony Ritchie as Director – Media & Communications
Alcohol Beverages Australia (ABA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Tony Ritchie as Director – Media & Communications, effective today, 25 August 2020. Tony will lead ABA’s external and internal communications efforts, showcasing our industry as leaders...
“FARE’s Annual Alcohol Poll confirms the obvious”
The latest Annual Alcohol Poll Report from the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) confirms what is common knowledge, that most Australians’ drinking occasions are at home and that Australians enjoy the convenience of home delivery. The real question...
“Mandating colours on pregnancy warnings will unnecessarily cost jobs and livelihoods”
Australia's beer, wine and spirits producers are deeply disappointed that Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, NT, and the ACT pressed ahead with a prescribed colour scheme that will impose substantial unnecessary costs on producers, while reiterating our support...
Drinking in moderation is the new norm
16 July 2020 Findings from the most comprehensive, independent, and trusted set of data on Australia’s drinking practices have confirmed a continuation of longstanding positive trends in our community. “These significant results confirm that our drinking...
“Pregnancy warnings supported, but mandating colours to cost consumers $400M”
Australia's beer, wine and spirits producers support mandating pregnancy warning labels. The now familiar pictogram of a pregnant woman holding a glass with a line through her silhouette is about to be mandated and updated with a new message that ‘alcohol can cause...
“A number of studies now show Australians drinking less during covid-19”
In a report issued today by the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare that examines a number of studies and research into alcohol use during covid-19 isolation measures, the overwhelming picture is one of Australians drinking less during the coronavirus crisis....
Latest ABS data shows continued financial impact on the drinks and hospitality industry
The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)* reiterates the ongoing financial hardship that the drinks and hospitality industry are facing in the wake of COVID19. The data shows that compared to this time last year the industry has had significant...
Letter to the Editor re: Minister met with alcohol lobby before pregnancy warning label sent back for review (The Age/SMH 19/6/20)
In response to an article published by SMH and The Age, Alcohol Beverages Australia received correspondence from members of the public expressing concern over our position on pregnancy warning labels. Despite being contacted by the journalist, unfortunately our...
Alcohol Beverage Sector is ready to be part of the solution
STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO VICTORIAN HEALTH GROUPS “Alcohol Beverage Sector is ready to be part of the solution” DISAPPOINTINGLY, a collection of Victorian taxpayer funded Government agencies and activist groups have attempted to demonise Australia’s world class...
“Restart the economy by restarting hospitality and tourism”
Behind developing a vaccine, Australians believe the restarting of the hospitality and tourism industry will provide the biggest boost to the economy, in new research released from the ANU today. Mr Andrew Wilsmore, Chief Executive Officer for Alcohol Beverages...
“Pregnancy Warnings – Let’s get the balance right”
The well-intentioned motion by Senator Griff on pregnancy labelling fails to recognise that FRSC (Food Regulation Standing Committee) and FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) bureaucrats delivered a proposal that was not in keeping with the clear direction...
“ANU Research shows more Australians drinking less during covid-19”
Missing from the ANU media release, but found buried in the report[1] is a very different story about Australians drinking during the coronavirus crisis. Mr Andrew Wilsmore, Chief Executive Officer for Alcohol Beverages Australia said today “The ANU survey results...
Statement on ADF “You Haven’t Been Drinking Alone” advertisement
Parents know you reward good behaviour, so it is disappointing this campaign focuses on the negative when Australians have earnt a pat on the back for overwhelmingly drinking in moderation during the coronavirus crisis. Beer, wine and spirit producers have reported...
Worst month on record for Australian beer, wine, spirits producers: ABA covid report
Australia’s largest beer, cider, wine and spirit producers are reporting dramatic volume declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has clearly translated into Australians drinking less overall, and the sad reality of almost half a million jobs lost in hospitality...
“Aussies drinking less in Isolation”
MEDIA RELEASE 21 May 2020 “Aussies drinking less in Isolation” CONTRARY to alarmist claims, it’s now official... Australians are drinking less in isolation. Mr Andrew Wilsmore, Chief Executive Officer of Alcohol Beverages Australia, said today “A spate of dubious...
Majority of Australians drinking the same or less during COVID-19
New, official data1 from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today confirms the vast majority (85.6%) of Australians are drinking responsibly during the pandemic shutdown – either unchanged behaviour or drinking less during COVID-19. Mr Andrew Wilsmore, Chief...
“Alcohol Beverage Industry response to FARE Covid-drinking Report”
The report released today by FARE once again seeks to sensationalise Australians drinking during covid, by suggesting an increase in retail sales led to higher volume of alcohol sold, rather than that Australians were paying more for their drinks and hospitality was...
Statement on Australia-UK Free Trade Deal
Alcohol Beverages Australia welcomes the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom. Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Wilsmore said “the finalisation of the Australia-UK Free trade deal brings considerable benefits to drinks producers...
Cost of Alcohol study to drive resources to cultural change
Alcohol Beverages Australia, and the industry more broadly, are very supportive of reducing the harmful impacts of drinking. These latest cost estimates show that some of the figures reflect the impacts of alcohol from years and perhaps decades of misuse, offsetting...