German beer sales fell to a new low in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic forced months-long closures of bars and spoiled the social plans of millions of people.
Establishments for producing and storing beer in Germany sold roughly 8.7 billion hectolitres of beer in 2020, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported on Monday.
This was a 5.5 per cent decline on the previous year, according to the government agency.
That data does not include non-alcoholic beers, malt beverages or beer imported from countries outside the European Union.
Germany’s love for beer has been on the decline for years.
The volume of beer sold in the country in 2020 was the lowest amount since records of this kind began in 1993, according to Destatis.
But 2020 was particularly tough on brewers, who missed out on a number of beer-guzzling festivals and events during the pandemic, not least due to the cancellation of Munich’s famous Oktoberfest.
Bars and restaurants have also been forced to close their doors, first during the spring lockdown and again since November.
The data showed, however, brief recovery in summer 2020, when anti-coronavirus restrictions were relaxed.
In August and September, beer sales increased by two per cent and 2.3 per cent year on year, respectively.
Citing excise duties, Destatis said 82.6 per cent of beer sold in 2020 was consumed in Germany.
Domestic sales were down by 5.5 per cent while sales to other EU countries plunged by 13.1 per cent.
There was a 3.7 per cent increase in beer sales to countries outside the EU. (dpa/NAN)
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