The new Lithuanian consumption data is surprising: a group of people under the age of 30. grew twice

The study shows a trend: the group of drinkers is getting younger in four years, the proportion of consumers under the age of 30 has increased by 10%. up to 21 percent.

The group of occasional drinkers increased more, by 4 and 2 percent each year. and in 2019 they represented more than half of all respondents.

“The general culture of leisure is changing a lot and it is important to pay attention to this when it comes to alcohol policy: we no longer need prohibitions, but social trust. It is enough to look at the population as an immature child,” says the professor. associate of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the Vilnius University Dr. Vita Karpuškienė.

To detail the peculiarities of consumption, the study distinguished four groups of users: drinkers, habitual drinkers, occasional drinkers and non-drinkers in the last 12 months.

The study shows that the group of drinkers, i. people who consume alcohol frequently and in abundance (drink daily or 2 to 4 times a week and more than 20 standard units of alcohol) remain stable in all studies and represent 5 percent of all respondents, but the amount of alcohol consumed by drinker is reduced.

Doc. Dr. Vita Karpuškienė said that, according to research data, the situation has improved since 2015. At that time, there were 15 liters of pure alcohol per person, currently this figure is less than 12 liters.

Beer is mainly consumed in Lithuania.

“We are a land of beer drinkers, but strong drinks are also nearby,” said V. Karpuškienė.

In the drink group, 90 percent. they are men, a third of whom are 60 years or older. 59 percent. They are rural residents, most of the respondents have secondary and low education.

“The measures that have been introduced have not encouraged people not to drink in the past 12 months,” said V. Karpuškienė.

The study found that there was a significant increase in the number of people who drank and used alcohol at work. As in previous years, a very high percentage of drinkers is seen in their homes or guests. In the group of drinkers, up to 100%, and in the group of habitual drinkers: 99%.

“The good news is that the amount of alcohol we drink per week is decreasing everywhere. The amount of alcohol consumed decreased further in the group of drinkers,” said V. Karpuškienė.

Vodka, fortified wine, and strong beer are exceptionally drinkable drinks. Occasional drinkers consume mostly natural wine, cider, whiskey, and brandy.

Alcohol consumption increased in bars and during events.

“Severe drinking episodes have become rarer. In fact, there are more people who have responded that there have been no such drinkers in the last 12 months. But if we look at the group that drinks weekly, daily or 2-4 times a week, those episodes have not changed. As often happened, it also happens now, ”said V. Karpuškienė.

Vilnius University, Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences, Ph.D. Dr. Aušrytė Rastenienė said that according to statistics, there were fewer and fewer people trying to quit drinking alcohol each year. And illegal alcohol is bought as much as before.

“How do people evaluate the measures taken by the government? <...> Last year, the increase in excise duties was rated the worst, the age limit and the advertising ban were rated the most favorable, “said A. Rastenienė.

However, statistics show that restrictions on the sale and advertising of alcohol do not affect or are unlikely to affect people who consume alcohol, according to 83%. surveyed

According to the study, the import of alcohol from abroad is very small. However, the majority of imports come from Poland and Latvia. The amount of imported beer and spirits is increasing.

According to Algirdas Bartkus, a researcher who studied Lithuania and the European Union’s excise tax policy, the increase in excise duties received the most negative evaluation: the number reaches 32 percent.

“Excise duties on alcohol are too high for all categories: spirits, beer, and wine. When evaluating the factors that determine the differences in excise duties in individual countries, it is obvious that excise duties in individual countries depend on a great measure of the level of per capita income, consumption taxes and special taxes applied by neighboring countries, “says Algirdas Bartkus.