Aussies demand more alcohol
As Oktoberfest 2011 wraps up, Australians still love a drink or two according to a global e-commerce website.
Latest data from Alibaba.com for the third quarter of 2011 shows Australia as equal sixth in the world for buyer enquiries to suppliers of alcoholic beverages, and equal fourth for enquiries about barware products.
In the corresponding quarter in 2010, Australia ranked outside the top 10 in both categories.
“Our latest figures suggest that, for many Australians, having a drink and socialising with their friends is still a very popular pastime,” says Daphne Lee, Alibaba's director international business development and marketing for the Asia Pacific region.
She says worldwide there has been a surge in demand for alcoholic beverages and barware products on the whole, with year-on-year increases in the total number of enquiries by about 55 per cent and 177 per cent respectively.
“With the rise in demand for barware products such as bar accessories, bar sets, buckets and coolers, there appears to be a growing trend back towards the old-fashioned home bar, which accompanies the trendy media room or games room, and fits harmoniously with the Australian way of entertaining friends at home."
The United States exhibited the highest demand for alcoholic beverages, accounting for more than 15 per cent of enquiries, while Hong Kong led the list for barware products with approximately 15 per cent.
The figures also show worldwide, beer was the second most sought after alcoholic beverage attracting around 14 per cent, behind wine which accounted for almost half.
“The demand for beer has more than doubled compared with the previous corresponding quarter of 2010,” says Daphne.
“Australians have always loved a beer and the popularity of Oktoberfest with Aussies is testament to this.” |