Lithuania’s alcohol consumption down to 13.2 liters in 2016 – statistics office

Lithuania’s retailers and food services providers last year sold 3.4 million decaliters of spirits (vodka, whiskey, brandy, etc.), down by 5.5 percent year-on-year. Wine and fermented beverage sales declined by 10.9 percent to 5.2 million decaliters and beer sales were down by 5.6 percent to 25.3 million decaliters, Statistics Lithuania said.

The figures do not include alcohol consumed by foreign tourists in the country and drinks purchased at the border, but include alcohol consumed by Lithuanian tourists abroad, Statistics Lithuania said.

Lithuania’s retailers and food services providers last year sold 3.4 million decaliters of spirits (vodka, whiskey, brandy, etc.), down by 5.5 percent year-on-year. Wine and fermented beverage sales declined by 10.9 percent to 5.2 million decaliters and beer sales were down by 5.6 percent to 25.3 million decaliters.

Retail prices of alcoholic drinks last year increased by 2.2 percent on average as a result of an excise tax hike, with the price of whiskey rising the most, by 7.1 percent.

According to latest figures from the World Health Organization, Lithuanians last year consumed 18.2 liters of pure alcohol per person aged 15 years and over, 1.8 liters more than Belarusians, in second place on the list, and as many as 4.3 liters more than Russians, who are traditionally seen as heavy drinkers.