Description of Alcohol Consumption in New Mexico (2005–2023):
The chart illustrates the annual consumption trends for wine, spirits, and beer in New Mexico, measured in standardized "drinks" per capita. Each column in the chart represents the total alcohol consumption for a given year, broken down by the contribution of each beverage type (wine, spirits, beer).
Overall Trends:
Total alcohol consumption per capita decreased from 11.9 drinks in 2005 to 11.4 drinks in 2023.
Beer consumption declined steadily, while spirits consumption grew, and wine remained relatively stable but declined slightly in recent years.
Wine Consumption:
Wine accounted for approximately 10–12% of total alcohol consumption annually.
Consumption remained steady at 1.3–1.5 drinks per capita from 2005 to 2021, then decreased to 1.2 drinks by 2023.
Spirits Consumption:
Spirits showed significant growth, increasing from 3.1 drinks in 2005 (about 26% of total consumption) to 4.8 drinks in 2023 (42% of total consumption).
This increase represents a steady rise, with particularly sharp growth between 2018 and 2022.
Beer Consumption:
Beer dominated overall alcohol consumption in 2005, with 7.5 drinks per capita, representing about 63% of the total.
Beer consumption steadily declined to 5.4 drinks per capita in 2023, making up less than 50% of the total.
Shifts in Proportions:
Over the years, spirits have gained a larger share of total alcohol consumption, reducing the share of beer.
Wine's share has remained relatively stable but decreased slightly in recent years due to the overall decline in wine consumption.
This data underscores a significant shift in New Mexico's alcohol consumption patterns, with spirits growing in popularity while beer consumption steadily declines.