Alcohol Consumption in Indonesia Decreased in 2020

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded a decrease in alcohol consumption by Indonesian residents aged 15 and over from 2018 to 2020. In 2018, alcohol consumption in Indonesia was recorded at 0.48 liters per capita.

This figure decreased to 0.41 liters per capita in 2019. A year later, alcohol consumption decreased to 0.39 liters per capita.

By region, alcohol consumption by rural residents reached 0.61 liters per capita in 2020. This was down from 0.64 liters per capita the previous year.

Meanwhile, alcohol consumption in urban areas was recorded at 0.22 liters per capita last year. This was only a slight decrease compared to 2019, which was 0.23 liters per capita.

The decrease in 2020 was not as significant as in 2019, considering that 44.5% of Indonesians did not change their alcohol consumption patterns during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. In fact, a study by FKUI-RSCM showed that 25.7% of respondents consumed more alcohol during the corona pandemic.

This occurred due to increased psychological stress during the pandemic. Alcohol consumption was considered capable of reducing anxiety due to its depressant properties.