E-Malt.com News article: Germany: German brewers disclosed lobbying talks with Berlin over falling beer consumption

Germany’s brewing industry has put falling beer consumption, the expansion of nonalcoholic beer, and alcohol prevention efforts at the center of its contacts with the federal government, according to a new filing in the German Bundestag’s lobby register, Vinetur reported on September 23.

The entry was submitted by the Deutscher Brauer-Bund, or German Brewers Association, and published on Sept. 23 in the public register used to disclose lobbying activity aimed at federal institutions. The matter is listed under the title “Market development of the brewing industry and prevention activities of the German Brewers Association.”

In its description, the association said it is in dialogue with representatives of the federal government about the current situation of the German brewing industry, declining beer consumption, the growth of nonalcoholic beers, and the group’s prevention work. It said those prevention activities focus on youth protection and the message that there should be no alcohol during pregnancy.

The register entry places the issue in two affected areas: the food and consumer goods industry and a broader health category. That pairing is notable because it shows the brewers’ group presenting the issue not only as a market question but also as one tied to public health and prevention.

The Bundestag register also states that the content of such entries is based solely on information provided by the interest representatives themselves. In this case, the filing does not describe a specific bill, draft regulation, or formal legislative amendment being pursued. Instead, it presents the matter as an exchange with the government on economic conditions in brewing and on prevention campaigns linked to alcohol consumption.

Even so, the filing gives a clear picture of the themes the industry wants to put before policymakers at a time when consumer demand appears to be shifting. The reference to declining beer consumption points to pressure on the traditional core of the market. At the same time, the specific mention of growth in nonalcoholic beer shows where the association sees momentum.

That combination matters beyond brewers alone. For the broader drinks industry, the filing signals that public policy discussions may increasingly connect prevention goals with the commercial rise of lower-risk or alcohol-free products. That could influence how companies across beer and other beverage categories think about product portfolios, marketing, and future investment. It could also shape demand for different packaging formats and retail positioning if alcohol-free products continue to gain visibility in policy and consumer discussions.

The prevention themes named in the filing are also significant. Youth protection has long been a central issue in alcohol policy, and messaging around avoiding alcohol during pregnancy has been a standard public health concern. By linking those topics with the market development of brewing, the association is showing that it is addressing both consumption trends and social responsibility concerns in the same policy conversation.

The entry does not provide details about which federal ministries or officials were involved in the exchange, nor does it set out any timetable for possible next steps. It also does not say whether the discussions are connected to planned changes in advertising, labeling, taxation, health campaigns, or other regulatory measures. The filing is limited to the broad themes under discussion.

Still, the publication is important because it puts on record the industry’s current priorities in Berlin. It shows the German Brewers Association using the formal transparency system to disclose that it is speaking with the federal government about the pressures facing brewers, the opportunities tied to nonalcoholic beer, and the role of prevention work in that debate.

The filing comes from a sector that is trying to respond to changing patterns of consumption while remaining active in policy discussions that touch both business and health. Based on the wording in the register, the association wants those two tracks to be considered together: the commercial reality of lower beer consumption and the public health issues that shape how alcohol is discussed by government, industry, and consumers.


25 September, 2026