The amount of alcohol found in Australian wastewater varies across jurisdictions and between capital city and regional areas^†.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission reported that the average alcohol consumption decreased in capital cities between August 2024 and August 2025 and increased in regional areas. Overall, alcohol consumption was higher in regional areas than in capital cities.

Estimated alcohol consumption for April 2024 in litres consumed per day (left axis) and standard drinks per day (right axis) per thousand people^

^ The number of collection days varied from 5-7 days

Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (2024). National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program: Report 23. Canberra: ACIC.