Imported and domestic premium beers posted growth of 15.3 and 18.6 percent, respectively, over the same period last year, while sales of premium spirits rose 21.3 percent.  Cheaper beer and spirit segments also showed growth, but not at the strong levels posted by their more expensive counterparts.

Overall, wine continued to experience volume losses, although increased demand for bottles costing $10-$20 was up 5.6 percent while bottles costing more than $20 showed growth of 4.1 percent.

“Instead of trading down when it comes to buying liquor, Australian consumers are becoming more sophisticated and are choosing high quality spirits, premium wines and a growing variety of premium or artisan-style beers,” said Michael Walton, executive director of Nielsen Australia’s Liquor Services Group.

Read the full press release here.

Volume sales of take-home alcohol for the current year through May 2008 grew 3% year-over-year, while alcohol sales in pubs, clubs, and restaurants declined by 8% during the period, according to Nielsen.

Take-home sales of cider (+15.2% volume) and spirits (+4.5% volume) fared the best. Nielsen also found that take-home sales of more expensive wines and premium spirits brands fared better than less expensive alternatives.

During the same period, on-site sales of beer and spirits fell by 8.7% and 5% year-over-year, respectively. On-site sales of cider, which grew by more than 30% during the same period in 2007, fell by 1% year-over-year through May 2008.

Nielsen research on consumer’s spending intentions revealed a similar trend.

As of May 2008, just 21% of British consumers said they were spending disposable income to go out — a 30% drop from 2005 and 2006, when 30% of those surveyed by Nielsen reported spending money to go out to pubs, clubs, and restaurants.

View the full press release.

Read coverage of Nielsen’s findings by Bloomberg and the Daily Telegraph.