While far from the most catastrophic consequence of climate change, a warming planet could mean higher beer prices. An international team of researchers announced in 2017 that global warming and more frequent droughts could result in a 17% annual decline in the production of barley — a key ingredient in beer.
The upshot? The price of beer could double in the coming years. Though such a price surge would be unprecedented for any American alive today, beer prices have fluctuated considerably over the last 60 years.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the average price of a six-pack of beer was less than $2.00. While this may sound like a bargain, adjusting for inflation shows that beer actually costs less now than it did in the mid-20th century.
Beer consumption in the United States tends to fluctuate with beer prices. Annual per capita beer consumption among Americans 15 and older stood at about 256 12 oz. beers in 2017. Per-capita consumption peaked during the 1980s, when beer prices were at their lowest, with Americans then consuming 300 beers on average.
Like everything else, the size of your bar tab is subject to the laws of supply and demand. When it comes to beer, this can mean anything from the impact of climate change on the global supply of barley to the changing preferences of drinking-age Americans.
Click here to see how much a six-pack cost the year you were born.
Click here to read our methodology.
Source: Chaloner Woods / Getty Images
1954
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.63
> Inflation adjusted price: $11.67
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): N/A 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 51.6%
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Source: Three Lions / Getty Images
1955
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.62
> Inflation adjusted price: $11.54
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): N/A 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 50.5%
Source: John Pratt / Keystone Features / Getty Images
1956
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.64
> Inflation adjusted price: $11.49
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): N/A 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 49.3%
Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
1957
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.67
> Inflation adjusted price: $11.37
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): N/A 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 48.7%
Source: Dennis Rowe / BIPs / Getty Images
1958
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.67
> Inflation adjusted price: $11.08
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): N/A 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 48.5%
Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
1959
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.68
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.99
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): N/A 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 48.6%
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
1960
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.70
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.97
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 233.19506199 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 47.8%
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Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1961
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.71
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.89
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 232.74525041 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 47.1%
Source: John Pratt / Keystone Features / Getty Images
1962
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.72
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.81
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 234.72685741 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 46.9%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1963
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.73
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.78
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 237.44064649 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 47.0%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1964
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.75
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.73
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 245.73223656 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 46.6%
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Source: Keystone / Getty Images
1965
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.76
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.67
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 245.98057611 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 45.8%
Source: F. Roy Kemp / BIPs / Getty Images
1966
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.79
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.55
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 251.33629905 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 45.7%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1967
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.82
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.48
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 253.75201629 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 45.2%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1968
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.87
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.37
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 260.45360088 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 44.6%
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
1969
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.92
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.18
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 267.53139721 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 44.6%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1970
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $1.98
> Inflation adjusted price: $10.03
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 275.30188547 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 45.3%
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Source: Frank Barratt / Getty Images
1971
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $2.05
> Inflation adjusted price: $9.98
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 281.73355335 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 44.6%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1972
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $2.07
> Inflation adjusted price: $9.74
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 285.94972846 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 45.7%
Source: Spitfire1973 / Getty Images
1973
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $2.11
> Inflation adjusted price: $9.39
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 295.42342715 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 46.0%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1974
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $2.31
> Inflation adjusted price: $9.32
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 305.35860728 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 46.8%
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Source: HultonArchive / Getty Images
1975
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $2.55
> Inflation adjusted price: $9.52
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 306.89562633 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 46.9%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1976
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $2.62
> Inflation adjusted price: $9.25
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 307.08857975 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 47.2%
Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
1977
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $2.66
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.82
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 315.26582248 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 48.8%
Source: Tom Kelley Archive / Getty Images
1978
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $2.80
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.69
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 322.93031939 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 49.1%
Source: Rob Cousins / Evening Standard / Getty Images
1979
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $3.10
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.82
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 329.66599264 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 49.9%
Source: Evening Standard / Getty Images
1980
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $3.42
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.78
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 334.9302873 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 50.0%
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Source: Patrick Riviere / Getty images
1981
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $3.66
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.64
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 337.67528192 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 50.4%
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
1982
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $3.83
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.57
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 334.10127065 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 50.7%
Source: Five Starr Photos ( Aussiefordadverts) / Flickr
1983
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $4.06
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.70
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 332.8708858 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 51.0%
Source: jeka1984 / Getty Images
1984
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $4.20
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.67
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 327.2979685 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 50.7%
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Source: Frederic Gleach / Flickr
1985
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $4.30
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.58
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 324.52137418 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 50.9%
Source: maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com
1986
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $4.38
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.56
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 329.39981 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 52.1%
Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
1987
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $4.47
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.47
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 325.85314208 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 52.8%
Source: Lenscap Photography / Shutterstock.com
1988
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $4.61
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.41
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 323.75488695 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 53.6%
Source: Dan Smith / Getty Images
1989
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $4.76
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.32
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 321.56231832 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 54.1%
Source: Alexander Raths / Shutterstock.com
1990
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $4.98
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.34
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 326.88191656 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 54.9%
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Source: Ilya S. Savenok / Getty Images
1991
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $5.58
> Inflation adjusted price: $9.03
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 316.57566962 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 56.0%
Source: Jupiterimages / Getty Images
1992
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $5.78
> Inflation adjusted price: $9.12
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 312.27695926 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 56.0%
Source: Marian Weyo / Shutterstock.com
1993
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $5.77
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.88
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 310.12138829 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 56.8%
Source: Room 76 / Shutterstock.com
1994
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $5.78
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.71
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 306.53210365 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 57.3%
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Source: TORWAISTUDIO / Shutterstock.com
1995
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $5.80
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.56
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 299.65974199 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 57.2%
Source: Rory Storm / Online USA, Inc.
1996
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $5.94
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.59
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 299.78785257 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 57.0%
Source: Matteo Gabrieli / Shutterstock.com
1997
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $5.97
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.49
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 298.07404805 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 57.0%
Source: somsak nitimongkolchai / Shutterstock.com
1998
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $5.98
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.44
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 297.25880461 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 57.0%
Source: Irina Mos / Shutterstock.com
1999
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $6.12
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.50
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 299.20086262 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 57.0%
Source: Goran Jakus / Shutterstock.com
2000
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $6.32
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.56
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 298.73040526 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 56.3%
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Source: Leszek Czerwonka / Shutterstock.com
2001
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $6.47
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.61
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 298.0235516 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 56.5%
Source: givaga / Shutterstock.com
2002
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $6.63
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.71
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 297.58459252 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 55.9%
Source: Claudio Divizia / Shutterstock.com
2003
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $6.79
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.74
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 293.17485906 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 54.5%
Source: CapturePB / Shutterstock.com
2004
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $7.03
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.84
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 293.13050119 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 54.1%
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Source: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images
2005
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $7.11
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.68
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 290.21687173 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 52.9%
Source: Pecold / Shutterstock.com
2006
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $7.17
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.53
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 293.59323558 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 52.6%
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images
2007
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $7.42
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.60
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 293.90328935 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 52.3%
Source: steve estvanik / Shutterstock.com
2008
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $7.67
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.63
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 291.72543867 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 51.9%
Source: ikolay Antonov / Shutterstock.com
2009
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $7.95
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.97
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 282.91277205 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 50.9%
Source: Claudio Divizia / Shutterstock.com
2010
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $8.10
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.97
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 278.91581119 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 50.5%
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Source: Olga Vasilyeva / Shutterstock.com
2011
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $8.21
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.88
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 272.28350473 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 48.9%
Source: PHTGRPHER_EVERYDAY / Shutterstock.com
2012
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $8.36
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.87
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 273.08757056 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 48.5%
Source: Kraft_Stoff / Shutterstock.com
2013
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $8.50
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.90
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 267.01141245 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 47.9%
Source: cristi180884 / Shutterstock.com
2014
> Avg. price of a 6-pack: $8.61
> Inflation adjusted price: $8.88
> Per capita beer consumption (15 and older): 266.26672392 12 oz. bottles
> Beer as a share of all alcohol consumption: 47.4%
To determine the cost of a six-pack of beer the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. adjusted the current average price of a six-pack in the United States for every year from 1954-2014. The price of a six-pack of beer is based on the Council for Community and Economic Research’s Cost of Living Index and is the average cost of a six-pack of beer from second quarter 2017 to second quarter 2018. The price was adjusted for each year using the inflation rate for the cost of beer, ale, and other malt beverages for home consumption for all urban consumers with data from the Consumer Price Index of the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index chained to 2017 dollars.
Total beer consumption by year came from the Beer Institute. Beer consumption per capita was calculated using the U.S. population 15 and older from 1960-2017 from the World Bank and the total amount of beer sold by brewers and beer importers by year from the Beer Institute. The per capita figure represents 12 oz. servings of beer. Beer as a share of total alcohol consumption is from the World Health Organization.
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