On-trade traditional beer sales fall by a third

Sales of beer in bars, pubs and restaurants in the UK have fallen by a third since 2007, according to a new report.

In the year to March 2019, beer sales volumes have dropped to 3.6 billion pints, compared with a peak of 5.7 billion pints in January 2007, analysis from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and pub chain Marston’s has revealed.

The report said that sale sin the on trade had “levelled out

On the other hand, while pub-goers are buying less beer, they’re also trading up. The report, which collaged market data from analysts Kantar, CGA and Alcovision, found that almost half of consumers are looking to premiumise their drink choice. The main beneficiaries of this growth have been “craft” beers and world beers, growing by 194,000 and 218,000 pints respectively, despite both categories commanding the highest price points.

The decline in beer volume also stands in contrast to sales of low and no ABV beer, which have risen by 30% since 2016, while 40 new products have been launched in the on-trade in the last two years alone.

According to the report, 65% of consumers are proactively trying to lead a healthy lifestyle. Health and wellbeing are “increasingly important in an age of increased responsibility,” it said.

The switch into low alcohol beers is being led by 18-24 year olds, the report claims, with around 9% of that age group having already switched out of to a low ABV beer, and those between 18-34 being the most likely to consider switching at 22%.