On-trade beer sales dropped less sharply than off-sales volumes, says BBPA

Beer sales dropped more in the off-trade than they did in the on-trade last year, according to research by the British Beer & Pub Association.

The BBPA found that in 2011, UK off-trade beer sales dipped to 12.3m barrels, 3.7% down on 2010. On-trade sales dropped slightly less steeply, by 3.4% to 13.7m barrels; the slowest rate of decline since 2004, says the association.

It is the first time since 1996, when the European Championships were held in England, that the off-trade has put in a weaker performance than the on-trade, said the BBPA.

Total beer volumes fell by 3.5% to 26m barrels, a decline that the BBPA estimates led to a loss of 9,000 jobs in the industry, mostly in pubs.

Chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “The decline in beer sales has slowed, but these figures show the sector cannot afford another round of inflation-busting beer tax hikes in the Budget. This will delay any potential recovery in an iconic and economically vital British industry.”

She added: “A change of course, giving brewers and pubs a chance to invest and expand their operations, could create over five thousand jobs in 2012, which should be a great year for British beer and pubs with the Queen’s Jubilee, Euro 2012, the Olympics and Paralympics.

“These events could provide a real boost for the UK economy and boost employment, but this will only be possible if the government reverses planned tax increases and damaging over-regulation.”

Rebecca Evans
23rd January 2012