South African household expenditure patterns : alcohol products in 1995 and 2000

Abstract

This research examines differences in household expenditure on alcohol between 1995 and 2000, the most recent years for which data is publicly available. The analysis reveals that both real expenditure on all alcohol products and the number of households purchasing alcoholic beverages have declined. However, it also shows a general decrease in total expenditure in all households, partly due to the change between 1995 and 2000 in the demographic and socio-economic structure of the households surveyed. Alcohol expenditure, particularly in better-off households, dropped by less than total expenditure, leading to an increase in the share of household expenditure allocated to alcoholic beverage purchases. AFRIKAANS: Hierdie artikel ondersoek die verskille in die besteding van huishoudings aan alkohol tussen 1995 en 2000, die mees onlangse tydperk waarvoor daar algemeen beskikbare data is. Die ontleding dui dat reële besteding op alle alkoholprodukte, asook die aantal huishoudings wat alkoholiese produkte koop, afgeneem het. Dit dui egter ook op ’n algehele afname in die totale besteding van alle huishoudings, deels vanweë veranderings in die demografiese en sosio-ekonomiese struktuur van die huishoudings onder beskouing tussen 1995 en 2000. Besteding op alkoholprodukte het, veral onder ryker huishoudings, met minder afgeneem as totale besteding, wat gelei het tot ’n toename in die gedeelte van huishoudelike besteding toegeken aan alkoholiese produkaankope.