Trends in alcohol consumption in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy from the 1950s until the 1980s

Abstract

This paper compares trends in alcohol consumption in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy starting from the beginning of the 1950's and extending until the 1980's and examines the modernization and internationalization of beverage preferences in these countries. The total consumption of alcohol has declined in Spain, France and Italy and the consumption of wine has shown a declining trend in all the countries studied. The traditional beverage, wine, has in Spain, Portugal and Italy been substituted by a new beverage with lower alcohol content, beer. In France the decline in wine consumption has not been substituted by the use of other alcoholic beverages. No noticeable internationalization in beverage preferences has taken place in Spain, Portugal or Italy, whereas imported beverages have gained some ground in France.