Newfoundland Beer Consumption Statistics

According to an Industrial Inquiry Commission from 1987, the beer drinking population of Newfoundland consumed 12 million dozen beer in 1986. This works out to be 144 000 000 beer. If we divide this number by 500 000, the approximate population of the province (which includes, children, seniors and non-drinkers), we find that the average number of beer consumed per person in 1986 was 288 (or two dozen a month). Is it just me, or does this number seem a little high?