Australia's love for beer has sunk to the lowest level since the days of the post-war six o'clock swill.
A more sophisticated approach to drinking is behind the rising popularity of wine, and the shunning of pre-mixed drinks and spirits.
Tim Schwilk, the owner of a Sydney family wine tasting business, certainly thinks so as official figures show beer consumption dropping to the lowest point since 1945 and 1946, when Australian pubs stopped serving patrons at 6pm.
"People are actually drinking to enjoy the experience, enjoy the occasion rather than just to get drunk," the Sydney Wine Centre manager told AAP.
"That may be a bit easier to see in wine.
"There's layers of flavour and complexity that allow it to be enjoyed and shared easier than beer."
Statistician Louise Gates said falling beer drinking levels, per person, continued a trend that started in the 1970s.
"There's been an increase in wine consumption," she said in a statement.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data show beer levels per person falling to a 66-year low of 4.14 litres, in 2011/12, as wine consumption rises to near record high of 3.8 litres.
CommSec chief economist Craig James said wine was poised to one day overtake beer.
Beer availability levels fell 2.3 per cent in 2011/12, compared with the preceding financial year, as wine rose 1.9 per cent.
Pre-mixed drinks also dropped 2.5 per cent as spirit levels fell four per cent.
Overall alcohol consumption fell for the second year running, dropping by 1.4 million litres in 2011/12.
"Random breath testing, immigration, greater variety in leisure pursuits, increases in income and wealth, diet, lifestyle - all these factors and more explain why Aussies are drinking less beer, more wine and drinking less alcohol more generally," Mr James said.
