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Statistics on alcohol sales
The figures are calculated based on figures reported to the Norwegain Tax Administration by businesses that pay tax on alcohol sales. The number do not include taxfree or turistimport.
Selected figures from this statistics
- Turnover of alcohol in 1 000 litres (except purchases of alcohol abroad)Download table as ...Turnover of alcohol in 1 000 litres (except purchases of alcohol abroad)
Sales of alcoholic beverages, as sold (1 000 litres) Sales of alcoholic beverages per capita, as sold (litres) Sales, as sold (1000 litres) 4th quarter 2023 4th quarter 2024 Change in per cent 4th quarter 2023 4th quarter 2024 Change in per cent 2023 2024 Change in per cent Alcohol, total 98 799 98 633 -0.2 21.61 21.26 -1.6 391 821 388 286 -0.9 Spirits 3 769 3 613 -4.1 0.82 0.78 -4.9 12 470 11 964 -4.1 Wine 24 440 24 141 -1.2 5.34 5.20 -2.6 89 608 86 753 -3.2 Beer 64 903 64 371 -0.8 14.19 13.88 -2.2 263 101 260 879 -0.8 Alcopops 5 688 6 508 14.4 1.24 1.40 12.9 26 643 28 690 7.7 Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ... - Turnover of spirits, wine, beer and alco pops. 1 000 litresDownload table as ...Turnover of spirits, wine, beer and alco pops. 1 000 litres
Pure alcohol total Spirits Wine Beer Alco pops As sold Pure alcohol As sold Pure alcohol As sold Pure alcohol As sold Pure alcohol 2014 25 296 11 192 4 365 75 801 9 399 241 538 10 911 13 774 621 2015 25 304 11 159 4 352 75 938 9 418 240 445 10 898 14 106 636 2016 25 841 11 120 4 337 76 351 9 470 249 450 11 336 15 472 698 2017 25 902 11 111 4 333 76 075 9 437 250 789 11 414 15 943 718 2018 26 207 10 888 4 247 77 219 9 577 254 925 11 586 17 677 798 2019 26 565 11 229 4 379 78 878 9 787 254 546 11 576 18 231 822 2020 32 091 14 036 5 474 105 154 13 035 278 182 12 575 22 315 1 006 2021 33 272 14 604 5 696 106 567 13 221 291 576 13 163 26 462 1 193 2022 29 959 13 203 5 149 91 376 11 345 271 129 12 295 25 928 1 169 2023 29 142 12 470 4 863 89 608 11 124 263 101 11 953 26 643 1 202 2024 28 562 11 964 4 666 86 753 10 772 260 879 11 830 28 690 1 294 2nd quarter 2022 8 294 3 232 1 261 24 356 3 023 80 387 3 640 8 218 371 3rd quarter 2022 7 163 3 087 1 204 21 360 2 650 66 253 2 998 6 874 310 4th quarter 2022 7 930 3 952 1 541 25 414 3 159 65 477 2 986 5 398 243 1st quarter 2023 6 428 2 761 1 077 20 058 2 489 57 495 2 607 5 641 254 2nd quarter 2023 7 986 2 966 1 157 24 205 3 003 76 268 3 452 8 280 373 3rd quarter 2023 6 983 2 973 1 159 20 904 2 594 64 434 2 913 7 034 317 4th quarter 2023 7 746 3 769 1 470 24 440 3 038 64 903 2 981 5 688 257 1st quarter 2024 6 224 2 614 1 019 19 371 2 404 55 925 2 536 5 865 265 2nd quarter 2024 7 748 2 871 1 120 22 681 2 815 75 141 3 400 9 156 413 3rd quarter 2024 6 953 2 867 1 118 20 560 2 551 65 442 2 961 7 161 323 4th quarter 2024 7 637 3 613 1 409 24 141 3 002 64 371 2 933 6 508 294 Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ... - Turnover of spirits, wine, beer and alco pops per capita 15 years and over. LitresDownload table as ...Turnover of spirits, wine, beer and alco pops per capita 15 years and over. Litres
Pure alcohol total Spirits Wine Beer Alco pops As sold Pure alcohol As sold Pure alcohol As sold Pure alcohol As sold Pure alcohol 2014 6.06 2.69 1.04 18.14 2.25 57.81 2.62 3.30 0.15 2015 5.97 2.64 1.03 17.94 2.22 56.80 2.57 3.33 0.15 2016 6.03 2.60 1.01 17.84 2.21 58.28 2.65 3.61 0.16 2017 6.00 2.57 1.01 17.61 2.19 58.04 2.63 3.69 0.17 2018 6.02 2.50 0.97 17.73 2.20 58.52 2.66 4.06 0.19 2019 6.05 2.56 1.00 17.95 2.23 57.94 2.63 4.15 0.19 2020 7.23 3.16 1.23 23.70 2.94 62.69 2.83 5.03 0.23 2021 7.44 3.27 1.27 23.84 2.96 65.23 2.94 5.92 0.27 2022 6.64 2.93 1.14 20.26 2.52 60.13 2.73 5.75 0.26 2023 6.37 2.73 1.06 19.60 2.43 57.53 2.61 5.83 0.26 2024 6.16 2.58 1.01 18.70 2.32 56.24 2.55 6.18 0.28 2nd quarter 2022 1.84 0.72 0.28 5.40 0.67 17.83 0.81 1.82 0.08 3rd quarter 2022 1.59 0.68 0.27 4.74 0.59 14.69 0.66 1.52 0.07 4th quarter 2022 1.76 0.88 0.34 5.64 0.70 14.52 0.66 1.20 0.05 1st quarter 2023 1.41 0.60 0.24 4.39 0.54 12.57 0.57 1.23 0.06 2nd quarter 2023 1.75 0.65 0.25 5.29 0.66 16.68 0.75 1.81 0.08 3rd quarter 2023 1.53 0.65 0.25 4.57 0.57 14.09 0.64 1.54 0.07 4th quarter 2023 1.69 0.82 0.32 5.34 0.66 14.19 0.65 1.24 0.06 1st quarter 2024 1.34 0.56 0.22 4.18 0.52 12.06 0.55 1.26 0.06 2nd quarter 2024 1.67 0.62 0.24 4.89 0.61 16.20 0.73 1.97 0.09 3rd quarter 2024 1.50 0.62 0.24 4.43 0.55 14.11 0.64 1.54 0.07 4th quarter 2024 1.65 0.78 0.30 5.20 0.65 13.88 0.63 1.40 0.06 Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ...
About the statistics
The information under «About the statistics» was last updated 7 March 2024.
Alcoholic beverage: Each beverage with an alcohol content over 0.7 volume per cent.
Litres as sold: litres of alcoholic beverage.
Spirits: Beverage with an alcohol content of more than 22 volume per cent.
Wine: Beverage with an alcohol content of more than 4.7- and up to 22 volume per cent.
Alcopops: Beverage with an alcohol content of more than 0.7- and up to 4.7 volume per cent.
Beer: Beer with an alcohol content of more than 0.7- and up to 22 volume per cent.
Name: Statistics on alcohol sales
Topic: Wholesale and retail trade and service activities
Division for Structural Business Statistics
Publication of data at the national level only.
Earlier annually, from the first quarter of 2003 quarterly.
Primary data and the compiled statistics are saved on Excel-files.
Official Norwegian alcohol statistics were published as of 1910, with figures back to 1851. The purpose of the statistics is to map the development in registered turnover for alcoholic beverages in Norway.
Users include public and private sector agencies, organizations and individuals.
No external users have access to the statistics and analyses before they are published and accessible simultaneously for all users on ssb.no at 8 am. Prior to this, a minimum of three months' advance notice is given in the Statistics Release Calendar.
For more information see Statistics Norway's principle of equal treatment of users
Statistic Norway's statistics on alcohol sales are related to:
The Norwegian Brewers and Soft Drink Producers' salestatistics
The state-owned wine and spirit monopoly's sales statistics
Statistics Norway's index of retail sales that shows the development in trade with beverages in specialised stores.
Statistics Norway's wholesale and retail trade sales statistics that shows turnover figures in NOK for trade with beverages in specialised stores.
The Statistics Act, paragraphs 4-9.
The statistics comprise all alcoholic beverages that producers and importers declare liable to excise duty in the course of a quarter. The liability to pay duty arises at the import or withdrawal of alcoholic beverages from premises which the Norwegain Tax Administration has approved for the production or storage of dutiable goods. Alcohol for medicinal, technical or scientific use are not included in the figures. Alcoholic beverages that are brewed at home, purchased abroad, or smuggled into the country are also excluded.
The Norwegian Tax Administration system ELSÆR (system for electronic raporting of excise duties). The reports obtained from ELSÆR concern the self-determination of excise duties, including notification of changes. In addition, reports are obatined from Avgiftsweb on authority determinations after checks/refunds.
The statistics are based on a full census survey.
All producers of alcoholic beverages and importers of beverages with an alcohol content over 0.7 volume per cent must register with the Norwegian Tax Administration, cf. the excise duty regulations (saf.) § 3-2-1 first paragraph and §5-1 letter a. As a general rule, that tax obligation also applies to importers of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol strength above 2.5% by volum, cf. saf. §5-1 letter e. The duty to pay does not cover the production for own use of an alcoholic drink that is not spirits.
Companies which are not registered with the Norwegian Tax Administration must declare and pay taxes on alcoholic beverages at import, cf. saf. §5-2. Refers to the Norwegian Tax Administration registration guide on their website.
Enterprises that are registered as liable for excise duties must report their excise duties in the reportingsystem ELSÆR. Registered enterprises that pay excise tax must submit their tax returns to ELSÆR by the 18th of the following month. Taxpayers register tax codes consisting of tax type and tax group. Tax group is linked to the type of alcohol and alcohol strenght.
Approximately two months after the tax declaration month Statistics Norway receives turnover figures for beer, spirits and wine per tax group from the Norwegian Tax Administration, measured in litres sold.
Turnover measured as litres as sold
The turnover of each type of beverage is computed by adding up the amount of litres as sold from the Customs' turnover figures according to the classification of alcoholic beverages.
Turnover measured as litres pure alcohol
The turnover of spirits multiplied with the average alcohol content divided by 100, gives an estimate for the turnover measured as litres pure alcohol. The turnover of wine and alcopops measured as litres pure alcohol are calculated in the same way. For beer, Statistics Norway have information on the average alcohol content per tax group. Consequently, the total litres of pure alcohol is computed from the turnover measured as litres pure alcohol per tax group and then aggregate to total litres of pure alcohol for beer. Finally the total turnover measured as litres of pure alcohol is computed from the aggregated turnover figures for the different types of beverages.
Turnover per capita
As the turnover of alcoholic beverages rises with the number of inhabitants, the average turnover per capita 15 years and over who are registered as Norwegian residents at January 1 in the year of interest is also computed.
The series of statistics on alcohol sales dates back to 1851, but contain a number of breaks. The most important breaks are described here.
Changes in the calculation method of the consumption of beer
From the 1980's the consumption of beer was calculated based on tax declarations from the Directorate of Customs and Excise instead of the declarations from breweries' distribution of beer, as was the case from 1913. Before that time information from county governors' five year reports were used to start with and then statements on corn set aside to malt from 1858.
Changes in the calculation of the consumption of spirits, wine and alcopops
After the prohibition against sale of spirits and fortified wine was introduced in 1917, people constantly acquired more spirits by means of medical certificate or for technical purposes, and used it as beverage. Consequently, lawful sales of spirits was included in the calculation of the total consumption of alcohol from 1921 - when its calculation was reliable - until 1931. No figures on the consumption of spirits were published for previous years during the prohibition period.
When the state-owned wine and spirit monopoly was established in 1923, it became easier to compute the consumption of spirits and wine more precisely, based on the company's import and sales statements. In previous years, production and import figures were used to compute the consumption of spirits, while the consumption of wine was considered equal to its import up until 1924.
The wholesale monopoly was, however, abolished in 1996. Statistics of wine and spirits have since then been calculated with the aid of turnover data from the Directorate of Customs and Excise. The average alcohol content is still collected from the state-owned wine and spirit monopoly and the Norwegian Brewers and Soft Drink Producers. It is used to calculate the number of litres pure alcohol sold by others than the state-owned wine and spirit monopoly. A similar break in the series exists in the calculation of the turnover of alcopops, measured as litres pure alcohol, from 2003 when alcopops became available in grocery stores.
The Customs starts using a new electronic datasystem
In 1998 the Customs started using a new electronic data system. This brought along insufficient basic data and, consequently, no statistics on alcohol sales were published this year.
Transfer to The Norwegian Tax Administration Since the 1st of january 2016 the responsibility for the excise duties was transferred to The Norwegian Tax Administration. The Norwegian Customs continues to have partial responsibility for some duties, mainly for private and unregistered imports.
Registered enterprises that pay excise tax must report excise tax electronically via the Tax Administration rapportingsystem ELSÆR 2.0, cf. tax administration Act §8-4. th taxation period for most excise duties, including duty on alcohol, is a calander month, cf. tha tax administration regulations §8-4-1 third paragraph. The delivery deadline for tax return for alcohol tax is the 18th of the month following the tax assessment period, cf. the tax administration regulations section § 8-4-2 first paragraph.
When excise duty is submited, companies have to state the calculation basis (quantity) themselves and the duty is calculated. This mocel is called the self-determination model. Submitted tax notices can be corrected by taxpayers even up to 3 years back in time by sending a socalled change notice, cf.Tax Administration Act § 9-4 first and second paragraphs. When authorities (The Tax Agency determine taxes and fees, because the taxpayer fails to submit a tax return or because the Tax agency`s checks reveal errors, it is called an official determination. As a general rule, the tax authorities can take up the tax assessment for changes for five years after the end of the tax assessment period, see the Tax Admninistration Act section 12-6 first paragraph. If it applies to serious tax evasion, the deadline is ten years, see §12-6 second paragraph.
The Tax Administration carry out ongoing checks of those liable to excise duty`s self-determined notifications, based on the agency`s risk assessments.
As previously mentioned, the registered taxpayers must submit excise duty periodically. If the excise duty is not submitted within the deadline, the liable entity will be reminded of there duty. Companies that still do not reply have to pay penalty interest on the tax claim. It will also not be possible for the company to submit next month excise duty before all previous month are submitted. In the extreme failure to deliver an excise duty will lead to de-registration, which means that the business has to discontinue its alcohol production and/or importation. It is a rare occurance that a company does not send in a tax declaration, but can happen in connection with for example bankruptcy. In these cases, the company will be deregistered and the trustee will take over responsibility for any final reporting.
On the basis of the Tax Administration Act §9-4 first and second paragraphs and the Tax administration Act §12-6 first paragraph, there may be changes to the submitted excise duty back in time. Statistics Norway receives the report approximatly two months after the reporting deadline, so changes may accure after the report has been delivered. The above mentioned corrections in tax data are not included in Statistics Norway's statistics on alcohol sales after the receipt date.