About the statistics

1. Administrative information

1.1. Name

Statistics on alcohol sales

1.2. Subject group

10.10.10 - Wholesale and retail trade

1.3. Frequency and timeliness

Earlier annually, from the 1st quarter of 2003 it will be quarterly.

1.4. Regional level

Publication of data at the national level only.

1.5. Responsible division

460 - Division for Construction and Service Statistics

1.6. Legal authority

The Statistics Act, paragraphs 3-2.

1.7. Legal document(EU)

Not relevant.

1.8. International reporting

Not relevant.

2. Background and purpose

2.1. Purpose and history

The purpose of the statistics is to map the development in registered turnover for beverages containing alcohol in Norway. The series of numbers dates back to 1851.

2.2. Users and applications

Users include public and private sector agencies, organizations and individuals.

3. Statistics production

3.1. Population

Registered companies' tax declarations to the custom service and information about cash imports from the electronic tax declaration system TVINN. The figures do not comprise homemade alcohol, smugling goods, Norwegian citizens' purchase of alcohol abroad.

3.2. Data sources

Registered companies' tax declarations to the custom service, information about cash imports from the electronic tax declaration system TVINN.

3.3. Sampling

Full census survey

3.4. Collection of data

The statistics are register-based. Each registered company must send a tax declaration to the custom service within the 18th the following month. Statistics Norway receives information from the Customs 6 weeks later.

3.5. Control and revision

Information about each tax group is checked against previously sent in declarations. The totals are checked against numbers published (submitted) by the state-owned wine and spirit monopoly and Norwegian Brewers and Soft Drink Producers.

3.6. Estimation

Not relevant.

3.7. Confidentiality

Not relevant.

4. Concepts, variables and classifications

4.1. Definitions of the main concepts and variables

Volume and tax amount are given for each tax group, which is identified by a tree-digit code.

This division into tax groups is done according to different rates within the same excise, beer in different tax groups and wine and spirits.

Amounts are given in "As sold liters" and "Pure alcohol liters".

4.2. Standard classifications

Spirits: More than 22 volume per cent
Wine: Between 4.75 an 22 volume per cent
Alco pops: Between 0.7 and 4.75 volume per cent
Beer: Between 0.7 and 15 volume per cent

5. Sources of error and uncertainty

5.1. Measurement and processing errors

Statistics on alcohol sales are based on a full census survey.

5.2 Non-response errors

Not relevant.

5.3. Sampling errors

Not relevant.

5.4. Other sources of error

Delayed reporting, inclusive sub-reporting, is difficult to estimate, but is presumed not to represent any major source of error.

6. Comparability and coherence

6.1. Comparability over time and space

Figures for 1998 are not available.

6.2. Coherence with other statistics

Not relevant.

7. Availability

7.1. Publications and other links

The statistics are published quarterly in Today's statistics of Statistics Norway and Statistical yearbook.

7.2. Microdata

Primary data and the compiled statistics are saved on Excel-files.