New research from Roy Morgan data reports that pre-COVID-19 the number of Australians visiting pubs was up 10 per cent on figures from 2016.
Contrary to their liquid image, it was found the greatest reason for Aussies (over 14 years) to go to a pub was to have a meal, with 9.5 million visiting over an average three-month period.
Around 5.2 million people drop in for the sole purpose of having a drink, and around 3.8 million do both.
Generation Xs, born from 1961-1975, are the leading age group, with nearly 2.76 million (57 pc) into the local, followed by 2.68 million Millennials (54 pc), which are the demographic most likely to come just for a drink.
Tied for third, with 2.4 million (52 pc) each, were the Baby Boomers and Gen Z.
At the State level South Australians take the prize, with 62 per cent, followed by Tasmanians (59 pc) as the citizens proportionally most likely to inhabit hotels. Following up was Victoria (54pc), New South Wales (52pc), Western Australia (50pc), Queensland (48pc), and coming in a distant last was the ACT, with only 37 per cent.
These findings stem from the Roy Morgan Single Source survey of the year to March 2020. Information is derived from in-depth interviews with over 1,000 Australians each week.
Despite current special circumstances, the results showed a significant lift on the company’s comparable survey four years ago, which found 10 million Australians patronising the public house.
“The option to return to pubs in greater numbers will be widely welcomed with 11 million Australians visiting pubs in an average three months during normal times, whether for a meal or a drink,” observed Michele Levine, Roy Morgan CEO.
