Think You Drink a Lot?
create pdf of this news itemprinter friendly
Think You Drink a Lot?


Granted the topic isn't specifically business related -- although I could argue that since work is part of life and therefore anything lifestyle-related is relevant -- but the findings of this study are too amazing not to share.

I promise you'll say, "Wait … what?!"

First there was a pretty dry (intentional, albeit weak, pun) survey on alcohol consumption in the U.S. conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Then Philip Cook performed a little data analysis, broke down alcohol consumption per week into deciles, and voila! dull is now fascinating. (For more info and a handy chart check out Christopher Ingraham's article in The Washington Post.)

Let's check out Philip's results:
•The bottom three deciles, or 30% of Americans, say they don't drink at all. That figure could be a little high since some people probably say they don't drink but occasionally do … but let's go with it.
•The fourth decile consumes .02 drinks per week. Since it's likely no one is doing shots from eyedroppers that's about a drink a year. (Birthday? New Years?)
•The fifth decile consumes .14 drinks per week. That's about seven drinks a year. Maybe that office party you're forced to attend and try to make the best of. (Or am I the only one who has done that?)
•The sixth decile consumes .63 drinks per week. We're still only up to a little over half a drink a week, or 32 drinks a year.

That means 60% of Americans age 18 and over consumer half a drink or less a week. Surprising? (It was to me; based on the relative footprint of the beer and wine section at the grocery store I assumed the number would be higher.)

Now it gets more interesting:
•The seventh decile consumes 2.17 drinks per week. More, sure, but not a lot. If the activities depicted in the average beer commercial are any indication that means people are climbing mountains, surfing, riding the range, or hanging with their best buds at low-key yet somehow super cool places once or twice a week.
•The eighth decile consumes 6.25 drinks per week. Finally we're close to a drink a day or a fair number of drinks on weekends. If you have a nightly glass of wine or beer you're in the top 30% of adults in terms of alcohol consumption. While one drink a day isn't much -- especially since some health experts say a glass of red wine a day can reduce the risk of heart disease -- that still means this decile drinks more than 70% of Americans.
•The ninth decile consumes 15.28 drinks per week. Two drinks a day, top 20% in terms of alcohol consumption. If this is you, you're knocking on the door of the top 10%.

But let's say you've never met a list you didn't try to top and your goal is to break into the tenth decile so you can be in the top 10% of American drinkers.

Here's what it takes to join that club:
•The tenth decile consumes 73.85 drinks per week. Yep. Over 73 drinks a week. That's 10 drinks a day. Forget a glass or two of wine with dinner; you need to drink roughly two bottles of wine with dinner. Forget a couple of beers; you need to pound down close to a 12-pack of beer every day to qualify. (Tell me your bladder -- and your wallet -- aren't cringing at the thought.)

Some basic conclusions:
•The median consumption is 3 drinks per week among those who do drink (tossing out the 30% who don't drink at all.) That means...
•The top 10% of drinkers account for more than half of all alcohol consumed in the U.S. And that means...
•According to Cook, "... the heaviest drinkers are of greatly disproportionate importance to the sales and profitability of the alcoholic beverage industry. If the top decile could be induced to curb their consumption to that of the next lower group (the ninth decile) then total ethanol sales would fall by 60%."

Maybe you're not surprised by the last point; power users are critical to the health of many businesses. The top 20 to 30% of purchasers/users often generate 70 to 80% of sales for many products/services. So it makes some sense that "power drinkers" make up such a huge proportion of alcohol sales.

But still. One out of ten adults consume more than 10 drinks a day? (Take that, D. Draper and R. Sterling.)

Please note I'm in no way judging. I don't care how much anyone drinks. Whether people drink, or how much they drink, is definitely their business.

I just think it's amazing how important the top 10% of drinkers are to the alcoholic beverage industry, and how big the jump in consumption is between the 80th percentile and the 90th.
Older News
Newer News



Posted by: Slinger
on 2018

News Categories
Welcome
Username:

Password:


Remember me

[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
New Forum Posts
Go Daddy Secure Site Certificate
Go Daddy Secure Site Certificate
Posted by Patty Pinkstaff


New Show Coming Soon !

Posted by Patty Pinkstaff
Date / Time
 
This site is powered by e107, which is released under the terms of the GNU GPL License.
No Warranties
This website is provided as is without any representations or warranties, express or implied. METALHAWK makes no representations or warranties in relation to this website or the information and materials provided on this website.
Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, METALHAWK does not warrant that:
This website will be constantly available, or available at all; or The information on this website is complete, true, accurate or non-misleading.
Nothing on this website constitutes, or is meant to constitute, advice of any kind. If you require advice in relation to any legal, financial or medical matter you should consult an appropriate professional.

Limitations of liability
METALHAWK will not be liable to you (whether under the law of contact, the law of torts or otherwise) in relation to the contents of, or use of, or otherwise in connection with, this website: To the extent that the website is provided free of charge, for any direct loss; For any indirect, special or consequential loss; or For any business losses, loss of revenue, income, profits or anticipated savings, loss of contracts or business relationships, loss of reputation or goodwill, or loss or corruption of information or data.
These limitations of liability apply even if METALHAWK has been expressly advised of the potential loss.

Exceptions
Nothing in this website disclaimer will exclude or limit any warranty implied by law that it would be unlawful to exclude or limit; and nothing in this website disclaimer will exclude or limit METALHAWK liability in respect of any: Death or personal injury caused by METALHAWK'S negligence; Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation on the part of METALHAWK; or Matter which it would be illegal or unlawful for REMETALHAWK to exclude or limit, or to attempt or purport to exclude or limit, its liability.

REASONABLENESS
By using this website, you agree that the exclusions and limitations of liability set out in this website disclaimer are reasonable. If you do NOT think they are reasonable, you must not submit materials, upload data or utilize this website in any capacity.

OTHER PARTIES
You accept that, as a limited liability entity, METALHAWK has an interest in limiting the personal liability of its officers and employees. You agree that you will not bring any claim personally or professionally against METALHAWK'S officers or employees in respect of any losses you suffer in connection with the website.
Without prejudice to the foregoing paragraph, you agree that the limitations of warranties and liability set out in this website disclaimer will protect METALHAWK'S officers, employees, agents, subsidiaries, successors, assigns and sub-contractors as well as METALHAWK.

Unenforceable Provisions
If any provision of this website disclaimer is, opr is found to be, unenforceable under applicable law, that will not affect the enforce ability of the other provisions of this website disclaimer.
{XFBMLSDK}
Render time: 0.0622 sec, 0.0114 of that for queries.