A recent report shows that alcohol consumption dropped by 3.5% in China last year. The drop could be related to decreasing economic growth in China.

According to the report by Euromonitor International, global alcohol consumption dropped by 0.7% in 2015, the first decrease in 14 years.

Like Us on Facebook

China consumes the most alcohol on the planet, drinking nearly 25% of the world's adult beverages. That number is almost twice the amount imbibed by the US, which is the second-largest consumer.

The decline in alcohol consumption could be a result of China's receding economic growth. Last month the country reported its slowest quarter of growth since 2009.

Slumping alcohol consumption numbers also reflect a trend of reduced alcohol use in the UK. The Adult Drinking Habits in Great Britain study from early 2015 found that 20% of adults in the UK said they do not drink.

The UK study also showed that the 16 to 24 age demographic saw a 40% increase of on-the-wagon respondents since the previous study ten years ago.

The founder of the Global Drug Survey, Dr. Adam Winstock, believes social media influenced young people to cut back on drinking.

"When you binge drink and do something embarrassing, it's not limited to the party where you are anymore," Winstock said. "Everyone can see it, and I think that might also be a factor."

Despite the decrease in consumption, the Euromonitor International study reported that alcohol sales actually increased by 2% globally. Part of that increase could be due to the rapid growth of the craft beer industry, which produces more expensive brews.

In the US alone, the number of craft breweries rose by 699, according to a report by the Brewers Association.  

Tagschina, alcohol consumption, alcohol sales, Beer, craft beer, UK alcohol consumption, china economy slowdown