Aussies embrace pub grub

The days of ‘a session’ at the pub may be on the way out, with more Australians visiting the pub for a meal rather than solely to drink.

In the 12 months to June 2015, Roy Morgan Research found that 43% of the population aged 18+ (7.9 million people) went to a pub or hotel at least once for a meal in any given three-month period — more than twice the proportion going for a drink only (20%, or 3.7 million people).

Men (25%) are substantially more likely than women (15%) to visit the pub just for a drink; however, pub dining is more gender-balanced, attracting similar proportions of men (44%) and women (42%). Overall, country dwellers (45%) are a little more likely than capital city residents (42%) to dine at a pub.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, going to the pub for just a drink is most popular among younger Australians aged 18–24 (27%) and 25–34 (28%), dropping off sharply among those aged 50+. The 50–64 age bracket is slightly more likely than any other group to grab a pub meal.

“Offering everything from Asian cuisine and gourmet pizzas to vegan burgers and Texas-style ribs, Aussie pub dining has come a long way since the humble counter meal. By positioning themselves as an affordable and appealing alternative to conventional restaurants, pubs are not only attracting patrons who might not otherwise have visited, they are also adapting to the national decline in alcohol consumption,” said Andrew Price, General Manager – Consumer Products, Roy Morgan Research.