"Drinking More Often, Gradually Since COVID-19" ... 9 Days of Drinking per Month

Ministry of Agriculture and aT Report 'Alcohol Industry Survey' Results Show Increase Since August 2019
Average Daily Alcohol Consumption Decreases from 6.9 to 6.7 Drinks

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Due to the impact of COVID-19, drinking alone ('honsul') and drinking at home ('homsul') have become more widespread, leading consumers to drink smaller amounts more frequently.

According to the '2020 Liquor Industry Information Survey' report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 13th, the average monthly drinking frequency of adults who consumed alcohol last year was 9.0 days.

The drinking frequency had decreased from 8.9 days in 2016 to 8.8 days in 2017 and 2018, and 8.5 days in 2019, but rebounded last year. On the other hand, the average amount of alcohol consumed per drinking day was 6.7 glasses last year, down from 6.9 glasses in 2019.

This survey was conducted from September 2 to 15, 2020, targeting 2,000 adult men and women aged 19 to 59 nationwide who consumed alcoholic beverages at least once a month and had drunk traditional liquor within the past six months.

Respondents most frequently cited 'honsul' (74.9%, multiple responses allowed) and 'homsul' (72.0%) as last year's liquor trends. This was followed by 'various beers' (54.9%), 'convenience store purchases' (49.9%), 'enjoyable drinks' (49.6%), and 'low-alcohol beverages' (34.7%).

The main types of alcohol leading the homsul trend were beer and soju. When asked which types of alcohol they preferred, 41.4% chose beer, the highest proportion, followed by soju (32.7%), traditional liquor (15.1%), and imported wines (4.5%). Compared to 2019, beer increased by 4.5 percentage points and imported wines by 0.3 percentage points, while soju decreased by 0.2 percentage points and traditional liquor by 5.0 percentage points.

As for the 'most favorite type of alcohol,' beer (46.3%), soju (29.3%), traditional liquor (10.4%), and imported wines (5.3%) were selected in that order.

Among the surveyed consumers, women aged 25 to 34 commented that "drinking at friends' houses or similar places leads to increased alcohol consumption or drinking more expensive liquors," while men aged 35 to 44 responded that they "mainly drink alone or lightly at home." The majority of these respondents also stated that "once COVID-19 ends, they will go out and drink with acquaintances as before," the report said.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.