Poland: Beer sales soar during the FIFA World Cup

Beer consumption in Poland during the World Cup 2010 in South Africa increased significantly, beating vodka consumption 3 to 1, Puls Biznesu reported on July, 28.

Although Poland’s national team did not even qualify for the FIFA World Cup, this did not discourage Poles from celebrating and spending their money at pubs, bars and alcohol shops. According to the Market Monitoring Centre, sales of beer in during the World Cup rose by 18 percent.

Beer took a clear lead over the traditional Polish tipple - vodka. Sales of beer were three times higher than that of vodka. In the final week of the World Cup, sales of vodka made up just 26 percent of total sales of alcoholic beverages, while beer scored 74 percent – a ratio of 3 to 1.

In 2009, the ratio was respectively 31 percent to 69 percent.

Over 8.5 million Poles watched the Spain-Netherlands final. The average value of beer purchase on that day was 7.18 zloty (1.8 euro), which is 13 percent more than usual in summer.

28 July, 2010