Total beer sales increased by 1.1% in 2019 to over 8 billion (8,059,495,997) pints
The increase is especially impressive as 2018 had resulted in the biggest year-on-year sales growth for beer in 45 years, with sales up 2.8% in 2018 alone. The growth in 2019 equates to an extra 87 million (86,738,882) pints of beer being sold versus 2018.
The former Chancellor Philip Hammond’s decision to freeze Beer Duty in his last Budget back in October 2018 appears to have been a key factor in the growth of beer sales in 2019, with the duty freeze coming into place in February 2019.
- Total beer sales increased by 1.1% in 2019 to over 8 billion (8,059,495,997) pints
- A total of 87 million (86,738,882) more pints were sold in 2019 than 2018
- The extra number of pints sold in 2019 will have boosted revenue for HM treasury by £57 million
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, commented: “Beer sales increasing is clearly good news for our sector. However, this growth will be stifled if the Government goes ahead with its planned increase to Beer Duty on March 11th.
“Rishi Sunak has a fantastic opportunity to nurture this growth by cutting Beer Duty in his Budget. Pubs and brewers have an overwhelmingly positive impact not just on the UK economy – supporting 900,000 jobs – but also socially and culturally across the UK, so it’s important the Chancellor actively supports them.”
