Document: Alcoholic Beverage Consumption
in the United States
Source: [will open in new window]
Table
1, in Harry G. Levine and Craig Reinarman, "From Prohibition to
Regulation: Lessons from Alcohol Policy for Drug Policy," The Milbank
Quarterly, Vol. 69, No. 3 (1991), reprinted online in the Drugtext Libraries
<http://www.drugtext.org/index.html>
U.S.
Apparent Consumption of the Drinking Age Population in Gallons per Year,
1850-1983 [Ohio State University Temperance and Prohibition Site]
Comments:
American consumption of alcohol was more heavily concentrated
than in Australia in so-called hard liquor, such as rye whiskey, rum,
bourbon and vodka, and wine consumption was lower than in Australia.
Beer consumption in both countries rose in the second half of the nineteenth
century as beer production methods improved and distribution over large
areas became more feasible. Figures for the comparative consumption
of alcohol in different countries can be found in W. J. Rorabaugh, The
Alcoholic Republic (New York: Oxford University Press, 1979).