Aussies Leaning Towards Cider as Their Drink of Choice

More and more Australians are opting for cider as their preferred choice of drink, a new study conducted by researchers at VicHealth reveals. The researchers also found that majority of cider drinkers were university educated females and were also heavier drinkers compared to their non-cider drinking colleagues. Around one in five people are opting to drink cider and in a group of cider drinkers aged under 30 years, 80 percent admitted to drinking at least five standard drinks in one session once a year compared to 67 percent of non-cider drinkers.

While cider sales grew by 30 percent in 2011, with some brands declaring that sales increased by 300 percent in 2012, the researchers said that many of the cider drinkers are willing to buy a low-alcohol option if it was available.

“The most popular types of ciders, pear and apple, are currently subject to the Wine Equalization Tax, which means there's little incentive for producers to make a low-alcohol option. If all ciders were subject to a volumetric tax, like beer is, then we'd potentially see lower alcohol varieties on the market. The vast majority of cider lovers we surveyed say they would drink a low-alcohol option, but unfortunately, there is no light version widely available”, VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said



Source-Medindia