Alcohol Consumption Statistics

2005-08-20 | by Jamie | Categories: Links and Articles

Thanks to my famous economist cousin Leslie I now have some hard statistical data about beer drinking in Japan as compared to other nations. As you can see below, Japan doesn't even rate in the top 10 of beer drinking countries. Not surprisingly, Ireland is number one!

However when it comes to drinking spirits, Japan shows its true colours. So those salarymen you see slumped over on the train probably weren't drinking beer but downing sake or whiskey, likely poured by their favorite Mama-san.

Update: As Luke pointed out, it's also worth examing the stats for wine consumption, with Italy just beating out France for the number one spot.

Who knows how accurate any of this is, but anyway here are some other interesting stats regarding Japan:

Number one for...
Not proud of their nationality

Undesirable neighbours:
Homosexuals

Drug addicts
Emotionaly unstable people

Political Extremists
I'm sure many of us gaijin would have figured Japan a shoe-in for the Undesirable Neighbours- 'Different Race' and 'Immigrants' categories, but those dubious honours go to Belgium.

Last place for...

Soft drink consumption
Will fight for country

Freedom in decision making

Discuss politics frequently

13 feedbacks » •

13 comments

Comment from: [Visitor]

Kampai!!!

2005-08-20 @ 13:22

Comment from: Jan [Visitor]

Luckely when it comes to beer, Belgium triumphs over the Netherlands.

2005-08-21 @ 03:42

Comment from: Keith [Visitor]

Sake and whiskey taste better than beer anyway.

2005-08-21 @ 09:15

Comment from: Luke [Visitor]

If you look at the stats for wine consumption on that site it says the Italians drink more than the French, which I find hard to believe. Realistically, though, Japanese people don't really drink beer that much at all, for an industrialised nation with large disposable incomes. When you're at an enkai, how long is it before everyone quits drinking beer and cracks open the shochuu?

2005-08-22 @ 12:28

Comment from: Kevin [Visitor]

Yeah!!! Go Ireland! WOO HOO.
i know alcoholism isn't something to be proud of, but somehow seeing Ireland topping the chart, in front of all those other loser countries makes the drunken Irishman in my stumble and stagger with joy.

2005-08-22 @ 14:00

Comment from: lance armstrong [Visitor]

EPO EPO what's the problem with a few performance enhancing drugs; the French are just jealous anyway. I get to ride my bike with George Bush now you can see why I have to act like I do.

2005-08-24 @ 04:41

Comment from: Jamie [Member] · http://www.avoidinglife.com

Oh Lance. We all know you're clean. I had a hard time understanding what you were yammering on about but then I found this: http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1444921.htm

Good luck next year on your record re-breaking run!

2005-08-25 @ 00:37

Comment from: Keith [Visitor]

That cracked me up.

But back to the graphs. That site is pretty interesting - and funny - but I wonder if there are any more recent graphs. The most recent seems to be from '02.

2005-08-25 @ 02:07

Comment from: mark [Visitor]

well, what can I say. First Id like to thank my agent for getting me all the great drinking parts that helpED me and my country win this award. Secondly, my dialysis machine for helping get me clean for another nite on the beer. Thanks.

2005-08-25 @ 16:07

Comment from: Beej [Visitor] · http://www.triplebeej.blogspot.com

Go Australia!!

2005-09-19 @ 14:44

Comment from: YacE9So5Zn [Visitor] · http://YacE9So5Zn.com

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2006-07-22 @ 10:54

Comment from: Eric [Visitor] · http://www.characterplanet.com

WoW Ireland completely dominates...I know I was helping our USA numbers when I was in college ;)

2008-03-01 @ 09:23

Comment from: shaun [Visitor]

im pretty prond of australia, lest we're beaten those yanks