E-Malt.com News article: 2034

The per capita beer consumption in the Czech Republic reached 162 litres in 2003, placing the country traditionally first in the world in this respect, Itar-Tass reported on January 13. Chairman of the Czech Union of Breweries Jan Vesely said in telephone interview with Itar-Tass that “this means that the average citizen of our country drinks daily a minimum half-litre mug of this utmostly popular Czech drink.”

“The population of the republic totals about 10 million. In the past year we produced 18.5 million hectolitres of beer, more than 2 million hectolitres of which was exported,” said Vesely.

The closest competitors of the Czech beer lovers are residents of Ireland, Germany and Austria, where the annual per capita beer consumption amounts to 146, 123 and 112 litres, respectively.

The world’s largest beer producer is China with the annual output of 241.4 million hectolitres. It is followed by the United States with 239.7 million hl, Germany – 100.4 million hl, Brazil – 84.8 million hl and Russia – 70.7 million hl.


16 January, 2004