Bottoms-up as West Aussies say cheers to liquor limits lifting

4 May 2020

West Australians have rebounded from the recent panic-buying liquor restrictions, with Bankwest Spend Trends data suggesting the last-call on drinks had limited long-lasting impacts.

Bankwest compared turnover value and volume for liquor and beer stores from 21-27 April – the first week of the lifting of restrictions – to the previous mid-measures period of 14-20 April.

The restrictions imposed by the State Government to ease panic-buying were first implemented on 25 March and brought down the average transaction value by 15 per cent from $45 to $38.

However, the weekly comparison following the lifting of restrictions showed West Australians rapidly returned to their usual purchasing behaviours, with lifts in transaction volume and value.

Visits to liquor stores, as well as the amount spent, both increased by seven per cent, resulting in a 15 per cent lift in turnover to merchants against the restrictions period.

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Restrictions comparison

  Pre-restrictions v Restrictions
(18-24 March v 14-20 April)
Restrictions v Post-Restrictions
(14-20 April v 21-27 April)
Merchant turnover
- 11%
+ 15%
Transaction volume
+ 6%
+ 7%
Transaction value (avg)
- 15%
From $44.70 to $37.80
+ 7%
From $37.80 to $40.40
 
Pre-restrictions v Restrictions
(18-24 March v 14-20 April)
Restrictions v Post-Restrictions
(14-20 April v 21-27 April)
Merchant turnover
- 11%
+ 15%
Transaction volume
+ 6%
+ 7%
Transaction value (avg)
- 15%
From $44.70 to $37.80
+ 7%
From $37.80 to $40.40

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