It’s World Cocktail Day! And Kiwi’s Continue To Drink Better

On May 13, 1806 The New York tabloid – The Balance and Columbian Repository - is reputed to have published the first definition of a cocktail and 219 years later our love affair with “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters” continues.

And although the average Kiwi is drinking better and better the rise and rise of the humble cocktail continues.

“There is little doubt that New Zealanders are drinking less – the official health and stats data shows it and our sales data confirms it,” says Spirits NZ CEO, Robert Brewer.

The change in drinking habits has been happening for years. A quick flick at the Stats NZ data shows that, per capita, we’re drinking 25% less that we did in the 1970’s and 80’s. And the most recent official NZ Health survey says five out of six of us (84%) are drinking beer, wine and spirits responsibly. That’s an increase of 4.7 percentage points over the past four years (78.7% 2019/20).

“In spite of a drop in consumption spirits have been somewhat insulated and the cocktail is a big part of the reason,” says Robert.

“It’s all about a confluence of two consumer trends - a move to a more premium product and a COVID-fuelled love affair with the cocktail. Consumers might drink less but they’ll spend a little more and go up the premium tree – great news for premium spirits producers,” he says.

Robert says the other great thing about a cocktail is that it does not need a lot of spirit to create a fantastic taste with most cocktails in bars coming in at under two standard drinks.

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