Estonians spend most on alcohol per household in EU

Estonians spend more per household on alcohol than anywhere else in the EU (picture is illustrative).
Estonians spend more per household on alcohol than anywhere else in the EU (picture is illustrative). Source: TASS/Scanpix

Estonians spend a higher proportion of household outgoings on alcohol than anywhere else in the EU, according to Eurostat data, although the figure has dropped slightly.

In 2017, 5.2% of household expenditure went on alcohol, according to the data, compared with an average of 1.6% across the EU In absolute terms, household expenditure on alcohol was €622.3 million. This figure does not include spend in hotels and restaurants, however.

Across the EU, total household expenditure was a reported €130 billion, making Estonia's proportion less than 0.5% of the total. On the other hand, since the EU's population is estimated at 512.6 million, with 1.3 million people, or around 0.25% of the total population, Estonian households are consuming a disproportionate amount by that estimate also.

The other two Baltic states, Latva and Lithuania, were close behind with alcohol making up 4.9% and 4% of household expenditure respectively, and Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary were all above the 3% mark.

Estonia's consumption dropped slightly, by 0.4%, on 2016. Rises in alcohol excise duties in recent years have probably been a factor in reduced expenditure, though this has also had the effect of driving trade south of the border with Latvia, where alcohol prices are lower.

Editor: Andrew Whyte

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