Aussies are shunning pubs in favour of staying at home to drink, study finds

Australians are hooked on drinking at home.

New research shows 74 per cent of Australians drink alcohol at home or at a friend's house - a stark contrast to previous generations when 70 per cent of drinking was in a pub.

Cheap take-away booze and home entertainment are driving the shift away from pubs, plus growing job uncertainty and tough drink driving penalties.

Victoria's take-home alcohol industry is booming, expanding 80 per cent in two decades, largely through aggressive growth by supermarket chains.

"The shift to drinking at home is a social revolution," said Australian Drug Foundation policy director Geoff Munro.

"A generation ago, people didn't drink at home at all. If anything, it was frowned on. Blokes would drink at the pub, but they would never dream of drinking at home. Now there's no social stigma to drinking at home."

In consumer research by beer giant CUB, the trend of having big TVs and new entertaining areas were major factors.

"A generation ago, people didn't drink at home at all. If anything, it was frowned on. Blokes would drink at the pub"

CUB spokeswoman Jennifer Howard said the "MasterChef factor" was also a big influence.

"Being able to cook up a storm on a six-burner barbecue and have a quiet beer or cider is not only acceptable, but seen as a comfortable, enjoyable and inexpensive way of entertaining," Ms Howard said.

"People are a little more cautious about what they spend, so a night in with family and friends and drinking beer bought in a slab or six pack is attractive."

New research by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education shows three in four Australians consume most of their alcohol at home or at a friend's house.

"It's hardly surprising because take-home alcohol has never been more affordable," said FARE's chief executive Michael Thorn.

"Our research shows that 4.1 million Australians admit to drinking to get drunk. And what do they mean by drunk? They mean legless - not just a little bit tipsy.

"The evidence is clear. You make alcohol cheaper and more available and people will consume more."

Mr Thorn was quoting FARE's 2012 Annual Alcohol Poll, which also showed almost one-in-five Australian drinkers drink to get drunk at least once a month, with one-in-10 drinking to get drunk at least once a week.

The research also revealed that three quarters of Australians think we have a drinking problem, and that 75 per cent think the problem needs action.

Alcohol Policy Coalition legal policy adviser Sondra Davoren said heavily discounted take-away liquor tempted young drinkers to "pre-load" at home before going out to bars and clubs later in the evening.

"While drinking at bars, pubs and clubs is still popular with young people, increasingly they are pre-loading on packaged liquor at home before their night out because it is cheaper," Ms Davoren said.

But Ms Howard said pubs would always be integral to our culture, despite the longer term global trend towards drinking at home. 

"People are prepared to spend their money on what they see as an experience," Ms Howard said.

Pub drinkers at the Malvern Hotel...Tim Nash, 38, Mark, 53, Michael Burke (publican behind bar),

We dropped in to the Malvern Hotel and asked some of the patrons 'Why do you still go to the pub?' This is what they had to say:

Tim Nash, 38, self employed: "Friendships, beer on tap, social interaction and meeting new and interesting people. It's amazing the networks that you build up.

Mark, 53, painter: "For the company and social friendships you get."

Michael Burke, 41, the publican behind the bar: "Beer is always better on tap, and pubs are a safe, clean environment to catch up with friends."

Luke Salkowski, 28, carpenter: "To escape my beautiful wife. Actually, I meant to wind down after a hard day's work with my old mates. My wife and her friends love coming here too. Best frothies in town."

Matt Stribley, 27, restaurant owner: "To drink cold pots, hang with friends, get out of the house and watch footy."

Beau Russell, 27, carpenter: "To relax after the odd hard day's work, to keep up the network with old school mates and see how much I'm beating the lads in the footy tipping."

Alex McHarg, 31, property developer: "Great meeting place with cold beer, good food, a relaxed environment and welcoming staff."

Source: The Herald Sun, 5 August 2012