In 2021, almost 1.5 billion pints (1 pint corresponds to 0.568 liters) fewer beers were sold than in 2019, the year before the pandemic began, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said on Friday. That corresponds to a minus of 38 percent or 5.7 billion pounds (6.77 billion euros). In 2020, sales were still 55 percent below pre-pandemic levels. “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 bars 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 local drink in Britain, while wine, sparkling wine and hard alcohol tend to be consumed more privately.
Source: Nachrichten
