Beer consumption per capita in the Netherlands fell in 2002 to 79.2 litres, versu 80.5 litres in 2001, the Dutch central brewing agency, the Centraal Brouwerij Kantoor (CBK) reported in a statement. The drop in per capita consumption is part of a general trend seen during the past 20 years. In 1981, per capita beer consumption in the Netherlands stood at around 90 litres.

Total beer production also decreased, from 25.2 million hl in 2001 to 24.9 million hl in 2002, the agency said. Beer exports fell from 13.1 million hl to 12.9 million hl.

30 May, 2003