The Aussie state with the most pub fans

New Roy Morgan data shows that South Australians are the country's biggest pub fans, with 62% of them heading to their local.

They are followed by Tasmanians (59%), then people in Victoria (54%), NSW (52%), Western Australia (50%), Queensland (48%), with the least likely being those in the ACT – only 37%.

“Most of Australia is opening back up as restrictions ease and venues, including pubs and hotels, are able to welcome back an increasing number of patrons," said Michele Levine, Chief Executive Officer, Roy Morgan.

"Unfortunately the wait for a greater lifting of restrictions has been delayed indefinitely for Victorians with a renewed outbreak of COVID-19.

The data showed that pre-COVID-19, 11 million Australians aged 14+ (52%) were visiting pubs for meals or for a drink in an average three months, up from 10 million four years ago. 

Contrary to the image many might have of Australia’s pubs, most visitors to these establishments (9.5 million) go primarily for food. There are also 5.2 million people who like to drop in at the local for the sole purpose of having a drink. Of course, many Australians, around 3.8 million, enjoy visiting pubs for both of these activities at different times.

“The renewed outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, and the imposition of a renewed six week lockdown for the Melbourne metropolitan area, shows this virus still poses a serious threat in Australia and bad luck, or bad management, could see outbreaks elsewhere around the country," Levine added. "But where the pandemic remains under control, many Australians will be enjoying the chance to have a parma or a schnitzel at their local.”

Gen X are the biggest pub fans

People in Gen X, born from 1961-1975, are the leading pub fans, with nearly 2.76 million (57%) visiting them. Other generations aren’t far behind, with 2.68 million Millennials (54%), 2.4 million Baby Boomers (52%) and 2.4 million in Gen Z (52%) visiting pubs.

Across all generations most people visit pubs for a meal (50% of Gen X, 47% of Baby Boomers, 46% of Millennials, 43% of Gen Z and 37% of Pre-Boomers).

Those most likely to go to a pub for the sole purpose of having a drink are the younger generations. Over 30% of Millennials and Generation Z visit pubs for the sole purpose of having a drink.

These findings are from the Roy Morgan Single Source survey in the year to March 2020, derived from in-depth interviews with more than 1000 Australians each week and around 50,000 Australians per year.

Pictured main: Adelaide's Havelock Hotel.