New Zealanders are paying a high price for their beer, a new survey shows.
The average cost of a beer in Auckland is NZ$9.05 compared to just NZ$1.00 in Caracas, Venezuela, according to a survey conducted by finder.com, an independent comparison platform and information service.
The survey compared the price of beer in 177 cities around the world, and New Zealanders are paying nine times more than the cheapest. Auckland represented New Zealand in the survey while Sydney represented Australia two places down the list with an average beer costing NZ$8.75.
The most expensive city in the world to buy a beer is Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where the average cost of a beer is NZ$16.80. Doha, the capital of Qatar, isn't far behind where an average beer costs $16.65.
The UAE, where the official religion is Islam, has strict rules for alcohol consumption. Non-Muslim residents can get a liquor licence to consume alcohol at home and in licensed venues. Alcoholic drinks are served in licensed hotels and clubs, but it is a punishable offence to drink, or be under the influence, in public.
Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, is the third most expensive place to buy a beer where the average cost is NZ$15.59, followed by Oslo, Norway (NZ$14.04), Mariehamn, Aland Islands (NZ$13.71), Manama, Bahrain (NZ$12.36), and Singapore (NZ$12.30).
The United States is the 14th most expensive place to buy a beer where the average price in New York City costs NZ$10.89.
The second cheapest place to buy a beer is Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where the average beer will cost you NZ$1.16. Lagos, Nigeria, is the third cheapest place (NZ$1.23), followed by Lilongwe, Malawi (NZ$1.25), Addis Ababa (NZ$1.31), and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (NZ$1.37).
Surprisingly, the average cost of a beer in Riyadh, the capital of conservative Saudi Arabia, costs only NZ$1.43.
The numbers in the survey are based on data taken from cost-of-living sites Expatisan and Numbeo on 29 November, 2017 in GBP, which were converted to NZD on 24 April, 2018, the website explains.
The results from Numbeo were based on the cost of a 0.5 liter draught from a restaurant. On Expatisan, the results were based on a 500ml or 1pt beer from a neighbourhood pub.
"Where possible, the figures provided by both sites were averaged," the website says.
Statistics NZ figures show the drinking habits for more than a third of people aged 18-24 could be potentially hazardous - regularly consuming six more drinks in a single session. Health campaigners have argued for booze to be taken out of supermarkets and the issuing of fewer licences to sell it.
Newshub.
