We spend 4,015 euros per person each year on wine and beer

Whoever enjoys a glass of coziness outside knows: the bill is the least fun part of the story. But hey, who pays attention to that after four wines and a cocktail?

No one. And so you forget it again. Eaten and drunk, partied and laughed, swiped the card and off you go to the next weekend. But let us tell you what you actually spend on beer and wine. Because it might be more than you think.

First of all, it is important to know how much we drink. Dutch people go for 83 liters of beer per person per year. Together, that amounts to 1.1 billion liters of beer in our country, so let's just say: we love it. And we are happy to pay for it. What does it cost? The price of beer varies quite a bit by brand and pub. Since 2006, a beer in a café has become 75 percent more expensive. A regular beer now costs about 3 euros in the pub – you get about 250 milliliters for that. At home, it costs you a lot less: a bottle of Heineken costs you 70 cents. Let's assume for convenience that you drink half of your beer outside, then you drink 41.5 liters in the pub. 1 liter costs you 12 euros, so that comes to 498 euros. At home, you spend another 116.2 euros on beer.

That brings you to a nice total of 615 euros just for BEER per year.

Okay, wine then, is that a better option for the wallet? Wine is of course available in all price ranges, so estimating is tricky. A glass of wine costs an average of 3.50 euros in the pub. If you buy a bottle for home, it costs you an average of only 85 cents. A glass of red every day, a bottle of white with your girlfriends... Per year we drink about 200 liters of wine per person (not too generously calculated even, oops). Let's say you drink 100 liters outside. A glass is 125 milliliters, so eight glasses of wine per liter. That costs you about 2,800 euros in a trendy bar. At home, it's cheaper and a liter costs you, say, just, on average, not too crazy: 6 euros. So that 100 liters costs you 600 euros. In total, you then spend 3,400 euros on wine per year.

A beer and wine lover? Your savings account knows it well, because that costs you TOGETHER 4,015 euros in those 365 days. You could do quite a few other things with that, right? But hey, it is nice. And cozy, thirst-quenching and festive. So cheers. I am the last one to complain about an extra bottle. But if you skip a month, know that you are doing very well financially... Anyone up for a dry March?