Statistics on Alcohol, England 2021

Last ten years (2010 to 2020)

Over the last ten years the price of alcohol has increased by 26% (based on the alcohol price index).

The price of alcohol decreased by 4% relative to retail prices (based on the alcohol price index relative to retail price index). Disposable income per adult increased by 9% over the same period.

As a result, alcohol has become 14% more affordable since 2010 (based on affordability of alcohol index). 

The affordability of alcohol uses alcohol price and retail price indices data from the Inflation and price indices and households’ disposable income data from the Economic and Labour Market Review. Both are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

UK household expenditure on alcohol has increased by 153% to £27.1 billion in 2020, from £10.7 billion in 1987.

However, since total household expenditure has increased by 317% during the same period, alcohol expenditure as a proportion of total household expenditure has fallen to 2.2% over the same period, from 3.5% in 1987.

Note;  household expenditure is based on current prices. It includes purchases at supermarkets, off licences etc. but excludes purchases in pubs, bars, restaurants etc.

Further information on purchases and expenditure on alcohol are available in Family Food which is published by Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and is based on data collected by the Living Costs and Food Survey.