Germany: Alcohol consumption continued to decline in 2020, particularly beer sales

Alcohol consumption in Germany continued to decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said on March 25.

The average per capita consumption of spirits declined by 0.9 percent last year, while consumption of sparkling wine decreased by 2.1 percent year-on-year, according to Destatis.

The "most substantial decline" was recorded in per capita beer consumption. It dropped by 5.4 percent year-on-year to 86.9 litres, the sharpest decrease in the past ten years, according to Destatis.

Measures taken to contain the pandemic, such as the closure of restaurants and bars, canceled events and cross-border traffic limitations, led to the decline in alcohol consumption, Destatis noted.

Beer sales were particularly affected by the pandemic. German breweries and beer warehouses based in the country sold 5.5 percent less beer in 2020 compared to the previous year, according to Destatis.

"2020 was already a pitch-black year for brewers and 2021 is also starting under a difficult omen," said Guido Mockel, spokesman for the management board of Radeberger Group, Germany's largest brewery group, when announcing last year's results in mid-January.