consumption
British pubs are selling less beer than before Corona
A pub worker serves a beer. Despite far-reaching relaxation of corona rules, British pubs have again sold significantly less beer than before the pandemic. Photo: Jon Super/AP/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
British pubs have been going back to the way they were before Corona for months. However, the beer sales figures for 2021 are still mixed – other alcoholic beverages, on the other hand, are much more popular.
Despite far-reaching relaxation of corona rules, British pubs have again sold significantly less beer than before the pandemic.
In 2021, almost 1.5 billion fewer pints of beer were sold than in 2019, the year before the pandemic began, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). That corresponds to a minus of 38 percent or 5.7 billion pounds (6.78 billion euros). In 2020, sales were still 55 percent below pre-pandemic levels.
changes in consumer behavior
“Every unsold pint is a stark reminder of how Covid restrictions have shaken up our industry and the communities that our pubs are at the heart of,” said BBPA chief Emma McClarkin. Masks have not had to be worn in pubs and restaurants since mid-July 2021. The scenes from densely occupied pubs have long been reminiscent of the time before Corona. But in the first half of the year, strict distance rules still applied. Beer gardens were only allowed to reopen in April.
The association also observed changes in consumer behavior during the pandemic. Between March 2020 and October 2021, the purchase of wine and spirits increased significantly, while demand for beer fell significantly. The association blames the month-long closures of pubs. Beer is considered a pub drink in the UK, while wine, sparkling wine and hard liquor tend to be consumed in private.