Table 10.2
Level of alcohol consumption by sex, 1986 to 2008-09

Persons aged 18+																					Percentages
Sex and level of alcohol consumption	1986		1990-91		1992-93		1994-95		1996-97		1998-99		2000-01		2002-03		2004-05		2006-07		2008-09
Sex and level of alcohol consumption	1986		1990-91		1992-93		1994-95		1996-97		1998-99		2000-01		2002-03		2004-05		2006-07		2008-09
All
Non-Drinker	36		29		29		28		27		27		28		24		24		25		26
Below sensible levels	58		60		60		59		59		58		54		56		57		57		57
Above sensible, below dangerous	5	] 6¹	8	] 10	9	] 12	10	] 13	12	] 14	12	] 15	13	] 18	15	] 20	14	] 19	14	] 18	12	] 16
Dangerous levels	1	] 6¹	2	] 10	2	] 12	3	] 13	3	] 14	2	] 15	5	] 18	6	] 20	5	] 19	4	] 18	4	] 16

Base=100% (All Persons)	4,872		5,585		5,382		5,190		4,636		4,419		4,272		4,087		3,788		3,608		3,110

Male
Non-Drinker	28		23		23		22		22		22		21		19		19		20		21
Below sensible levels	61		61		59		58		56		56		50		48		52		52		53
Above sensible, below dangerous	9	] 10	14	] 17	14	] 18	16	] 21	17	] 23	18	] 22	19	] 28	22	] 33	20	] 29	20	] 28	19	] 26
Dangerous levels	1	] 10	3	] 17	4	] 18	5	] 21	5	] 23	4	] 22	9	] 28	11	] 33	9	] 29	8	] 28	8	] 26

Base=100% (Males)	2,165		2,502		2,382		2,237		1,993		1,839		1,752		1,735		1,590		1,472		1,275

Female
Non-Drinker	43		35		33		33		30		31		33		27		28		28		30
Below sensible levels	55		60		60		60		61		59		57		61		61		61		60
Above sensible, below dangerous	3	] 3	4	] 5	5	] 6	6	] 7	7	] 8	8	] 10	9	] 11	9	] 11	10	] 11	10	] 11	8	] 10
Dangerous levels	<1	] 3	1	] 5	1	] 6	1	] 7	1	] 8	1	] 10	1	] 11	2	] 11	2	] 11	1	] 11	2	] 10

Base=100% (Females)	2,707		3,083		3,000		2,953		2,643		2,580		2,520		2,352		2,198		2,136		1,835
									Source: Continuous Household Survey

Notes
Recommended sensible levels used are 21 units of alcohol per week for men and 14 units per week for women.
Maximum safe levels are 50 units per week for men and 35 units per week for women.
¹All alcohol consumption above sensible levels