Liquor consumption in Athens County is increasing at a higher rate than the statewide average, according to statistics released by the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control.
The Division of Liquor Control reported a state record $611.5 million sales of spirituous liquor in 2005. Spirituous liquor is defined as intoxicating liquor containing more than 21 percent alcohol by volume. Dollars of sales increased by 7.1 percent from 2004 and gallons of liquor sold increased by 3.7 percent.
Matt Mullins, the division's spokesman, attributed the sales increase to a rise in consumption of liquor, increased liquor prices and a continuing trend of consumers buying premium-price products.
The two Athens County liquor stores saw a 5.8 percent increase in bottles of liquor sold and an 8.2 percent increase in dollars of liquor sold. For the past five years, Athens County has reported increases in bottle sales at least double the state average.
Statistics compiled by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also indicate that consumers prefer liquor to beer or wine. Beer sales in gallons, though much higher than the volume of liquor, decreased in 2003 - the most recent year of statistics available. Earlier years indicate fluctuating levels of the amount of beer sold. Gallons of wine and liquor sold consistently rise each year recorded.
Area bar owners have noticed consumer preferences shifting to liquor and mixed drinks instead of beer or wine in recent years.
It would be hard to imagine college students drinking Cognac a few years ago
said Ric Wasserman, owner of The Pigskin Sports Bar & Grille, 38 N. Court St. The variety of things you can do with liquor is attractive to people.
He also attributed the switch from beer to liquor to the advertising styles of the companies. College students are more likely to see the creative ads of liquor companies on the Internet or in magazines than the stagnant beer ads on television or billboards, Wasserman said.
Joel Schechtman, owner of The Blue Gator, 63 N. Court St., and Skipper's Bar & Grille, 22 W. Union St., described the shift toward liquor as people wanting a better drink.
Especially in our community around Ohio University students are more price conscious Schechtman said. I haven't seen people buying less liquor with the price increases
though.
Ohio University and Athens County health officials have not noticed a particular movement toward liquor use. Records do not indicate whether patients being treated for alcohol abuse primarily drank liquor or beer.
Joe Gay, Ph.D., executive director of Health Recovery Services of Athens County, said he has not seen a dramatic increase in alcohol-abuse cases, but he has heard from law enforcement officials that there has been a significant increase in cases of severe intoxication.
Terry Koons, the assistant director of substance abuse education at OU, said he does not believe that OU has more of a problem than in the past.
When you look at high-risk behavior
it doesn't matter what you're drinking; it's the amount that's the problem
he said.
Athens County's increase in liquor sales was in between Butler County's, where Miami University is located, and Wood County's, where Bowling Green State University is located. Butler County saw an 11 percent increase in sales of liquor, and Wood County saw a 3.5 percent increase, compared to Athens' 8.2 percent increase. Both counties have significantly higher populations and more liquor stores than Athens County.
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Rebecca Black
