On Day 4, the latest consumption surveillance report published by The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) was used as the data source.
This was a single table containing the following 14 fields:
- Year: 4-digit calendar year.
- Geographic ID code: Codes for geographic regions.
- Type of beverage: Codes for the types of beverages.
- Gallons of beverage: Total beverage amount.
- Gallons of ethanol (absolute alcohol): Total amount of Ethanol consumed.
- Population (age 14 and older): The population of the United States aged 14 and older.
- Gallons of ethanol per capita age 14 and older: The amount of Ethanol consumed per capita for the 14+ population.
- Decile for per capita consumption age 14 and older: Either the top 10% or the top 10%-20% for the 14+ population.
- Population (age 21 and older): The population of the United States aged 21 and older.
- Gallons of ethanol per capita age 21 and older: The amount of Ethanol consumed per capita for the 21+ population.
- Decile for per capita consumption age 21 and older: The amount of Ethanol consumed per capita for the 21+ population.
- Type of data source: Where the data was sourced from.
- Time-varying alcohol by volume (ABV): Change in the alcohol content over time.
- Gallons of ethanol derived from time-varying ABV: Estimated amount of pure ethanol (absolute alcohol) consumed, calculated using dynamically changing alcohol by volume (ABV) values
The types of beverages were categorised as beer, wine, or spirits. The geographic IDs were mapped to U.S. states, as well as to the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West regions, and the entire U.S. Per capita ethanol consumption values were divided by 10000 to obtain the correct values, while time-varying alcohol by volume (ABV) was divided by 1000.
Alteryx was used to extract and clean the data before loading it into Power BI. As it was a single table, no data model needed to be created.
Data Story:
The data story focused on understanding the relationship between Alcohol by Volume (ABV) and overall ethanol consumption for the 14+ population. This segment was used as it aligns with total population trends. The analysis was divided into three key sections:
- Ethanol consumption and ABV% over time – Examining whether there is a relationship between the strength of an alcoholic beverage and the amount consumed.
- Percentage of total ethanol consumption by beverage type and their average ABV% – Analysing how different alcoholic beverage types contribute to overall ethanol intake.
- Top 10 states for ethanol consumption by beverage type – Identifying regional drinking preferences and deviations from national trends.
Key Findings:
- Despite declining consumption, beer still accounts for the largest share of total ethanol.
- Spirits, with their high ABV, contribute a significant portion of ethanol despite lower overall consumption, while wine remains the smallest contributor.
- Certain states, such as New Hampshire, D.C., Delaware, and Nevada, prefer spirits over beer, diverging from the national trend.
- This shift, driven by the higher ABV of spirits, may raise concerns about alcohol-related health risks.
Author: Troy
Troy holds degrees in Science, IT, and Education. These have equipped him with a multidisciplinary foundation combining analytical thinking, problem-solving, and technical proficiency. During his graduate studies at CSIRO, where he analysed genetic sequence data and gene expression profiles as part of a broader research project, he developed a deep interest in uncovering insights through data. After several years as a STEM educator, Troy has transitioned back to being data-focused, bringing a unique perspective shaped by his teaching experience and ability to convey complex ideas effectively. His skills cover the entire data lifecycle, from data cleaning and analysis to creating effective visualisations that support decision-making. In his free time, Troy enjoys trail running and staying active, relishing the chance to clear his mind and explore the outdoors.