Wet weather blamed for drop in UK beer sales

Beer sales in the UK dropped by 3.1% in the first quarter of 2014 with a late Easter break and soggy weather blamed for weak sales.

Pub beer sales dropped 4.2% while sales of beer in supermarkets and off-licences fell by 1.8%, following a slight growth in 2013, according to figures released by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA)

The latest figures, released in the BBPA Quarterly Beer Barometer, show overall sales of beer fell by 3.1% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.

And while beer sales in pubs fell by 4.2%, this was an improvement on the 5.4% fall in the same period in 2013.

Brigid Simmonds OBE, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “A late Easter break and the impact of severe flooding early in the year has affected beer sales, although sales did not fall as much as they did this time last year.

“The outlook ahead is certainly more positive with the Easter sales, an expected World Cup uplift and the further boost from a cut in Beer Duty from the Chancellor.”

The industry had seen growth in the previous two quarters and it is hoped that the recent cut in Beer Duty, announced by the Chancellor in March budget and effective from April, will provide a much-needed boost to business.