Cold 2015 chills UK drinks industry

Monthly UK temperatures for 2015 have been at least 1°C colder on average than in 2014, which will have contributed to a stifling of drinks sales, new research shows.

Drinks sales will have been put on ice due to lower UK temperatures this year, the research argues (Photo: Pixabay)

Temperatures were roughly 1°C colder for nine out of the 10 months to October 2015 measured using Met Office data as part of research from Wilson Drinks Report.

The research shows that, despite warnings that 2015 would be the hottest on record for the UK, temperatures in 2015 have been consistently colder.

Changes in the weather have a significant impact on the UK drinks industry, with warm, sunny conditions usually being the most beneficial in driving sales of beers, wines and spirits.

The findings come as world leaders gather in Paris for a week of talks regarding global climate change.

Tim Wilson, managing director of WDR, said: “As global leaders congregate in Paris to debate climate change, it is interesting to look at what actually happens a bit nearer home.

“Most drinks businesses include comments about the weather when either explaining upturns or declines in their performance.

“Our own research confirms that many key drinking occasions are directly impacted by the weather, so we like to keep an eye on the Met Office monthly data to see how changes in sunshine and mean temperature correlate to changes in drinks sales.”

While the exact impact that temperatures have on drinks sales cannot be quantified, Wilson said that the drinks industry will have “suffered” from this year’s cooler temperatures.