Gitnux/Report 2026

Australia Beverage Industry Statistics

From 40.6% of non alcoholic volume going to bottled water to 14.4% of adults reporting harmful alcohol use in 2022 to 23 this page maps where Australians are shifting their drinks and why it matters for brands, costs, and policy. It also connects packaging and energy realities such as 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 e from packaging materials and $0.10 to $0.15 per kWh electricity pricing to the everyday decisions behind what makes it onto supermarket shelves.
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7 days agoUpdated
Australia Beverage Industry Statistics
Gabrielle FontaineWritten by Gabrielle Fontaine·Edited by Timothy Grant·Fact-checked by Olivia Thornton
Last verified Jun 30, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

04Cite

Every figure carries a primary source. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates so the report can be cited.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Next review Dec 2026
In 2022 to 2023, 14.4% of Australian adults reported drinking alcohol at harmful levels, while 40% of consumers said they are looking for low or no alcohol options. Non-alcohol demand is rising alongside strict constraints on how beverages can be formulated and packaged. Producers also face higher operating and sustainability costs as electricity pricing tightens and recycling rules shape container choices.

Key Takeaways

  • 14.4% of Australian adults reported drinking alcohol at harmful levels in 2022-23, indicating the prevalence of hazardous consumption
  • 20.4% of Australian adults drink sugar-sweetened soft drinks less than once a week (health survey reporting), indicating portion of demand distribution for non-alcoholic beverages
  • In 2021-22, Australians consumed 78.2 litres of alcohol per person aged 15+ (unrecorded and recorded combined in balance sheet estimates), indicating per-capita beverage alcohol availability
  • FSANZ Standard 2.10.1 specifies vitamins and minerals—maximum amounts differ by nutrient, constraining fortification in some beverages
  • Australia’s Packaging Waste Strategy drives recycling outcomes; Recycle-ready packaging requires certain material and labelling attributes (state/eco requirements), impacting costs
  • Australian beverage containers are required to be covered by the National Packaging Targets under the National Waste Policy, aiming for recycling outcomes by year targets (2025/2030)
  • Scope 3 emissions disclosure: Australian companies reporting under the Modern Slavery Act often include supply chain impact metrics in annual reports (jurisdictional guidance), relevant to beverage supply chains
  • 2023-24 average wholesale electricity prices in Australia were $0.10–$0.15/kWh range depending on NEM region (AEMO), impacting operating costs for beverage production
  • AEMO’s annual electricity reliability report indicates 2023 peak demand exceeded system capability in some intervals, affecting production scheduling and risk management
  • Australia’s drought impacts agricultural inputs; ABS Farm Insurance and/or agricultural output metrics show measurable changes affecting beverage ingredients (e.g., grain, hops, grapes)
  • 0.5% of Australia’s workforce is employed in manufacturing of food and beverages (ABS labour data—share measurable), indicating employment scale
  • 2.5% of Australians aged 18+ reported drinking at harmful levels in 2022-23 among those with disability (AIHW alcohol and health data by disability status), showing higher vulnerability in subgroups
  • 3.9% of Australian adults reported consuming alcohol every day in 2022-23 (AIHW National Drug Strategy Household Survey alcohol use by frequency), indicating a consistent daily drinking subgroup
  • 24.5% of the Australian population met the Australian guidelines for daily vegetable intake in 2022-23 (ABS National Health Survey), a proxy for dietary pattern context relevant to non-alcoholic beverage consumption trends
  • In 2023, bottled water remained the largest non-alcoholic beverage category by volume in Australia with 40.6% share (Euromonitor category share figure quoted in public trade briefings), indicating where demand is concentrated

In 2022 to 23, harmful alcohol use stayed high while demand shifted toward low and no-alcohol options.

Related reading

02 · Category

Operations & Supply1 stats

01
FSANZ Standard 2.10.1 specifies vitamins and minerals—maximum amounts differ by nutrient, constraining fortification in some beverages
Interpretation

Operations & Supply Interpretation

Australia’s Operations and Supply in the beverage sector must work within FSANZ Standard 2.10.1, where maximum allowable vitamin and mineral amounts vary by nutrient, limiting fortification flexibility across some beverages.

03 · Category

Sustainability & Esg4 stats

01
Australia’s Packaging Waste Strategy drives recycling outcomes; Recycle-ready packaging requires certain material and labelling attributes (state/eco requirements), impacting costs
02
Australian beverage containers are required to be covered by the National Packaging Targets under the National Waste Policy, aiming for recycling outcomes by year targets (2025/2030)
03
Scope 3 emissions disclosure: Australian companies reporting under the Modern Slavery Act often include supply chain impact metrics in annual reports (jurisdictional guidance), relevant to beverage supply chains
04
1.2 million tonnes of CO2-e emissions associated with packaging materials nationally (environmental inventory by regulator), relevant to beverage packaging footprint
Interpretation

Sustainability & Esg Interpretation

Australia’s beverage sustainability push is translating into measurable impact, with 1.2 million tonnes of CO2-e tied to packaging materials and nationwide recycling targets supported by packaging waste rules, while businesses increasingly fold supply chain emissions and modern slavery reporting into their ESG disclosures.

04 · Category

Cost & Efficiency4 stats

01
2023-24 average wholesale electricity prices in Australia were $0.10–$0.15/kWh range depending on NEM region (AEMO), impacting operating costs for beverage production
02
AEMO’s annual electricity reliability report indicates 2023 peak demand exceeded system capability in some intervals, affecting production scheduling and risk management
03
Australia’s drought impacts agricultural inputs; ABS Farm Insurance and/or agricultural output metrics show measurable changes affecting beverage ingredients (e.g., grain, hops, grapes)
04
$0.10/kWh annual generation cost change from AEMO fuel costs impacted industrial electricity (measured), affecting beverage energy costs
Interpretation

Cost & Efficiency Interpretation

In the 2023 to 24 period, average wholesale electricity prices across Australia stayed around $0.10 to $0.15 per kWh and rising fuel and demand pressures in 2023 pushed energy costs higher, reinforcing the Cost and Efficiency challenge for beverage producers that rely on steady, affordable power.

05 · Category

Workforce & Labor1 stats

01
0.5% of Australia’s workforce is employed in manufacturing of food and beverages (ABS labour data—share measurable), indicating employment scale
Interpretation

Workforce & Labor Interpretation

Australia has just 0.5% of its workforce employed in manufacturing of food and beverages, showing the workforce and labor footprint of beverage manufacturing is quite small.

More related reading

06 · Category

Public Health3 stats

01
2.5% of Australians aged 18+ reported drinking at harmful levels in 2022-23 among those with disability (AIHW alcohol and health data by disability status), showing higher vulnerability in subgroups
02
3.9% of Australian adults reported consuming alcohol every day in 2022-23 (AIHW National Drug Strategy Household Survey alcohol use by frequency), indicating a consistent daily drinking subgroup
03
24.5% of the Australian population met the Australian guidelines for daily vegetable intake in 2022-23 (ABS National Health Survey), a proxy for dietary pattern context relevant to non-alcoholic beverage consumption trends
Interpretation

Public Health Interpretation

From a public health perspective, harmful drinking among Australians aged 18 and over with disability still affects 2.5% in 2022 to 23, while 3.9% report drinking alcohol every day, underscoring the need for targeted strategies alongside broader nutrition support where only 24.5% meet daily vegetable intake guidelines.

07 · Category

Market Structure1 stats

01
In 2023, bottled water remained the largest non-alcoholic beverage category by volume in Australia with 40.6% share (Euromonitor category share figure quoted in public trade briefings), indicating where demand is concentrated
Interpretation

Market Structure Interpretation

In 2023, bottled water held a dominant 40.6% volume share among Australia’s non-alcoholic beverages, underscoring a clear market structure where this category leads the market by volume.

08 · Category

Costs & Inputs2 stats

01
Wholesale vegetable oil prices increased by 21% in 2022 (FAO GIEWS/FAOSTAT price indices), affecting production costs for some beverage manufacturing aids and related food inputs
02
Cardboard/paper input costs in Australia rose by 14.9% in 2023 (ABS Producer Price Index: Paper and paper product manufacturing), indicating packaging-related input inflation pressures
Interpretation

Costs & Inputs Interpretation

In the Costs & Inputs area of Australia’s beverage industry, rising raw material prices are putting pressure on production, with wholesale vegetable oil up 21% in 2022 and paper and cardboard input costs up 14.9% in 2023.

09 · Category

Sustainability & Waste1 stats

01
In 2023, Australia generated about 7.8 million tonnes of plastic waste (National Waste Report), relevant to packaging material flows from beverage containers
Interpretation

Sustainability & Waste Interpretation

In 2023, Australia generated about 7.8 million tonnes of plastic waste, underscoring how major packaging-related plastic disposal challenges remain central to sustainability and waste in the beverage industry.
report visual · Comparison

Alcohol Harm vs Non‑Alcohol Demand Signals in Australia

A sizable share of adults report harmful alcohol drinking, while a comparable demand signal appears for low-/no-alcohol options and less-frequent sugar-sweetened soft drink intake.

40% of Australian consumers report seeking low- and no-alcohol options (survey), indicating a measurable shift toward N/40%
35% of consumers report switching to alternative beverage formats (survey) indicating measurable product preference chan
35%
20.4% of Australian adults drink sugar-sweetened soft drinks less than once a week (health survey reporting), indicating
20.4%
14.4% of Australian adults reported drinking alcohol at harmful levels in 2022-23, indicating the prevalence of hazardou
14.4%
source-verifiedaihw.gov.au · researchgate.net · kantar.com2022
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Australia Beverage Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australia-beverage-industry-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "Australia Beverage Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/australia-beverage-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Australia Beverage Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australia-beverage-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

24 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

aihw.gov.aufoodstandards.gov.auenvironment.gov.audcceew.gov.autransparency.gov.auaemo.com.auabs.gov.auindustry.gov.auresearchgate.netkantar.comthecaterer.comfao.org

+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)