Beer alcohol

Off-trade volume sales of beer have risen 3.8% in the past 12 months, according to new figures from the British Beer & Pub Association.

BBPA data published today (8 June) shows supermarkets and off-licenses drove the growth in the beer market, selling the equivalent of 13.8 million barrels of beer in the year to 31 March, versus 13.3 million in the preceding 12 months. Conversely, on-trade sales fell 0.8% over the period to 13.6 million barrels, resulting in total beer volumes rising 1.5% to 27.4 million.

The picture is not so positive when comparing figures only for the past quarter, with total sales down 0.8% compared with the first quarter of 2014. Q1 off-trade sales grew 1.1% year on year to 2,575 million barrels, with on-trade sales of 2,887 million despite a 2.4% year on year drop.

The figures highlighted the need for continuity in tax policy on beer, said BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds beer, adding that three consecutive beer duty cuts had helped stabilise the sector and safeguard the future of many of Britain’s pubs.

The market is still fragile as the industry continues to recover from the damaging beer duty escalator 

“The market is still fragile as the industry continues to recover from the damaging beer duty escalator and UK beer duty rates remain among the highest in the EU,” she added. “That is why we need the right tax policies so we can continue to boost jobs and create investment.”

In January, The Grocer reported that off-trade volume sales of beer had topped on-trade sales over a full calendar year for the first time on record, according to BBPA data for January to December 2014. Shoppers had bought the equivalent of 13.8 million barrels of beer versus the 13.7 million downed in pubs, clubs and restaurants. Supermarket beer volumes had benefitted from deep discounting around the World Cup and the Christmas period, with off-trade sales up 3.5% year-on-year while on-trade sales had dropped 0.8%.

Total beer sales (MAT ’000 barrels)

 Q1Q2Q3Q4
  Volume % change Volume % change Volume % change Volume % change
2000 35,464 -0.6% 35,503 1.5% 35,052 -1.0% 34,572 -3.5%
2001 34,531 -2.6% 34,432 -3.0% 34,473 -1.7% 34,627 0.2%
2002 34,953 1.2% 35,287 2.5% 35,201 2.1% 35,141 1.5%
2003 35,052 0.0% 35,033 0.0% 35,483 0.0% 35,500 1.0%
2004 35,771 2.0% 35,969 2.7% 35,495 0.0% 35,641 0.4%
2005 35,413 -1.0% 35,015 -2.7% 35,215 -0.8% 34,902 -2.1%
2006 34,778 -1.8% 35,191 0.5% 34,596 -1.8% 34,448 -1.3%
2007 34,265 -1.5% 33,600 -4.5% 33,558 -3.0% 33,155 -3.8%
2008 33,144 -3.3% 32,790 -2.4% 32,213 -4.0% 31,482 -5.0%
2009 30,961 -6.6% 30,543 -6.9% 30,503 -5.3% 30,214 -4.0%
2010 29,927 -3.3% 30,225 -1.0% 29,514 -3.2% 29,150 -3.5%
2011 29,003 -3.1% 28,272 -6.5% 28,492 -3.5% 28,477 -2.3%
2012 28,430 -2.0% 28,031 -0.9% 27,618 -3.1% 27,131 -4.7%
2013 26,970 -5.1% 26,627 -5.0% 26,997 -2.3% 27,098 -0.1%
2014 26,994 0.1% 27,639 3.8% 27,368 1.4% 27,444 1.3%
2015 27,401 1.5%            

Off-trade beer sales (MAT ’000 barrels)

 Q1Q2Q3Q4
  Volume % change Volume % change Volume % change Volume % change
2000 11,183 5.3% 11,484 12.9% 11,381 6.9% 11,215 -0.9%
2001 11,397 1.9% 11,471 -0.1% 11,679 2.6% 11,864 5.8%
2002 12,143 6.5% 12,562 9.5% 12,649 8.3% 12,808 8.0%
2003 12,888 0.0% 13,020 0.0% 13,502 0.0% 13,610 6.3%
2004 13,949 8.2% 14,174 8.9% 13,874 2.8% 14,128 3.8%
2005 14,032 0.6% 13,951 -1.6% 14,279 2.9% 14,173 0.3%
2006 14,278 1.8% 14,725 5.6% 14,451 1.2% 14,506 2.4%
2007 14,496 1.5% 14,177 -3.7% 14,391 -0.4% 14,418 -0.6%
2008 14,755 1.8% 14,915 5.2% 14,707 2.2% 14,434 0.1%
2009 14,143 -4.2% 13,909 -6.7% 14,052 -4.5% 13,958 -3.3%
2010 13,976 -1.2% 14,512 4.3% 14,084 0.2% 14,015 0.4%
2011 13,928 -0.3% 13,293 -8.4% 13,598 -3.5% 13,552 -3.3%
2012 13,647 -2.0% 13,412 0.9% 13,172 -3.1% 12,870 -5.0%
2013 12,881 -5.6% 12,765 -4.8% 13,173 0.0% 13,323 3.5%
2014 13,301 3.3% 13,857 8.6% 13,645 3.6% 13,784 3.5%
2015 13,812 3.8%            

On-trade beer sales (MAT ’000 barrels)

 Q1Q2Q3Q4
  Volume % change Volume % change Volume % change Volume % change
2000 24,281 -3.1% 24,018 -3.2% 23,671 -4.4% 23,358 -4.7%
2001 23,134 -4.7% 22,961 -4.4% 22,794 -3.7% 22,763 -2.5%
2002 22,811 -1.4% 22,725 -1.0% 22,552 -1.1% 22,333 -1.9%
2003 22,165 0.0% 22,013 0.0% 21,981 0.0% 21,890 -2.0%
2004 21,821 -1.5% 21,796 -1.0% 21,621 -1.6% 21,513 -1.7%
2005 21,381 -2.0% 21,064 -3.4% 20,935 -3.2% 20,729 -3.6%
2006 20,499 -4.1% 20,466 -2.8% 20,145 -3.8% 19,942 -3.8%
2007 19,770 -3.6% 19,423 -5.1% 19,166 -4.9% 18,737 -6.0%
2008 18,389 -7.0% 17,876 -8.0% 17,506 -8.7% 17,048 -9.0%
2009 16,818 -8.5% 16,634 -6.9% 16,451 -6.0% 16,256 -4.6%
2010 15,951 -5.2% 15,714 -5.5% 15,430 -6.2% 15,135 -6.9%
2011 15,075 -5.5% 14,980 -4.7% 14,894 -3.5% 14,925 -1.4%
2012 14,782 -1.9% 14,619 -2.4% 14,446 -3.0% 14,261 -4.5%
2013 14,089 -4.7% 13,862 -5.2% 13,824 -4.3% 13,775 -3.4%
2014 13,693 -2.8% 13,781 -0.6% 13,723 -0.7% 13,660 -0.8%
2015 13,589 -0.8%