Beer sales fall through due to bad weather
Published: Thursday, Nov 21st 2024, 13:00
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The past brewing year fell through in Switzerland, partly due to the bad weather. Beer sales shrank again. For the first time, per capita consumption fell below the 50 liter mark.
The years-long downward trend thus continues: Total beer sales fell by 1.6% to 4.5 million hectoliters in the past 2023/24 brewing year (as at the end of September), as the Swiss Brewers' Association (SBV) announced to the media in Uster on Thursday.
Swiss breweries were hit harder: domestic output fell by 1.7% to 3.5 million hectoliters. Meanwhile, beer imports fell by 1.3% to 0.96 million hectoliters. Imported beers from abroad accounted for 21.4 percent of the total market. Around ten years ago, the import share had peaked at 26 percent.
Wet weather beats thirst
The bad weather has curbed the thirst for beer. Most areas of Switzerland experienced above-average rainfall in spring. There were few opportunities to enjoy a beer outside and in company, explained Brewers' Association Director Marcel Kreber: "Even the good performance of the Swiss national football team at the European Championships didn't help."
In addition, the September figures were also negative. The cold polar air put an abrupt end to the summer on the northern side of the Alps from September 9. The initial behavior has also changed. Younger consumers, who have been affected by the coronavirus shutdowns, are showing a different, more selective starting behavior, according to the report.
In contrast, non-alcoholic beers increased by 12% to 0.31 million hectoliters. Its share of the total beer market is now 7% (previous year: 6.1%).
Less than 50 liters for the first time
While less beer is being drunk in this country, the population has grown to just over 9 million people. As a result, per capita consumption has slipped below the 50 liter mark for the first time since measurements began. By way of comparison: in 1990/91, an average of 71 liters ran down every Swiss throat.
But even these higher figures from the past are still low compared to Germany. Germans drink 88 liters per capita.
However, the Czechs are the undisputed world champions: With an unchanged average consumption of 136 liters of beer per capita, they topped the table according to the latest available figures from 2022. They were followed by the Austrians with 102 liters per capita.
©Keystone/SDA
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