UK: Just one extra pint a month in a pub can push the beer industry back into growth - CAMRA

Beer drinkers in the UK buying just one extra pint a month in the pub would be all that it takes to push the British beer industry back into growth after years of steady decline, lobby group CAMRA has said.

CAMRA said that 38% of pub goers were visiting the pub less often than they did 12 months ago and that beer sales are suffering - despite real ale out-performing the rest of the market – with the total volume of beer sold in the UK during 2012 standing at around 7.8 mln pints, compared to more than 8.2 mln in 2011 and over 8.4 mln in 2010.

The pressure group said the effect was clear to see, with 26 pubs a week now closing in the UK.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said: “Around 32 mln people in the UK enjoy a beer at least once a year, but the number of people drinking in pubs has been on the decline, contributing to an overall fall in beer sales. But with the price of a pint getting a much needed duty cut in this year’s budget there’s never been a better time to get down the pub. Just a pint a month extra is all it would take.”

16 August, 2013