Consumption of distilled spirits

Fig. 3. Consumption of distilled spirits from 1940 to 1900, where I, total +, per adult (1).

The Distilled Spirits Institute, Washington, D. C., prepares reports on public revenue from alcoholic beverages, apparent consumption of distilled spirits by states, the number of retail licenses for sale of distilled spirits, and analyses of the distribution of the population of the United States in relation to areas permitting or prohibiting the sale of distilled spirits. Some of these publications are available to the public. 

Table 36.—Apparent U. S. Consumption of Distilled Spirits, 1901 to 1932 [Statement in tax gallons]...

A is alcohol consumption as measured by per capita consiunption of distilled spirits ... 

Distilled spirits and the industry have always been subject to heavy taxation. Not only has it been an excellent source of revenue for many governments throughout the world, but high taxes can also be rationalized as having an inhibitory effect on consumption. 

The decline in distilled spirits consumption is likely to continue, but will be somewhat ameHorated by the increased consumer interest in high price premium products and the increased activity in the international markets. Eor example, Japan is importing significant amounts of American bourbon, a trend that will probably continue. 

In spite of a decline over the past 50 years, whiskeys are still the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage group in the United States (Table 1) (1). However, vodka consumption has increased significandy to 22% of total distilled spirits in 1990. 

Ellagitannins are among the most diverse and structurally complex class of polyphenolics in plants. They are important contributors to color, flavor and stability in fruits as well as oaked wine and distilled spirits. Recently, consumption of ellagitannins has also been linked to potential health benefits. The extraction, isolation, and identification... 

TABLE 16.11 Trends in the U.S. Consumption of Classes of Distilled Beverages (Spirits)"... 

Jean Ann Tonich s admitted ethanol consumption exceeds the definition of moderate drinking. Moderate drinking is now defined as not more than two drinks per day for men, but only one drink per day for women. A drink is defined as 12 oz of regular beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz distilled spirits (80 proof). 

According to some people, the Prohibition Act actually promoted the consumption of alcohol. Owing to smuggling and clandestine distillation, spirits had never been so cheap and easily accessible in Finland as they were during the prohibition era, 1919-1932. Terje Enkvist, The History of Chemistry in Finland, 1828-79/5 (Helsinki Societas Scientiarum Fennica, 1972), p. 143. 

Spirits or liquors are alcoholic beverages in which the high alcohol concentration is achieved by distillation of a fermented sugar-containing liquid. Examples are distilled wines (brandies), liqueurs, punch extracts and alcohol-containing mixed drinks. Table 20.27 compares the alcohol consumption with respect to spirits, wine and beer in selected countries. 

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