The Czech Republic: Beer consumption at its lowest since 1963

Last year, the average Czech drank 256 beers, the lowest number since 1963, Prague Morning reported on June 16.

Despite being the highest in the world, consumption has significantly dropped, and experts predict this trend will continue. The record of 163.5 liters per person in 2005, equivalent to 327 beers, seems unlikely to be matched again.

Tomáš Slunečko, executive director of the Czech Brewery and Maltsters Association, explained, “The long-term trend of falling beer sales continued last year. The trend is clear and consumption is declining.”

He attributed the decline to the worsening economic situation, which affects spending habits. Additionally, the rising prices of draught beer are driving people to drink at home, where beer is cheaper.

“The share of beer sold in pubs and restaurants has fallen to 30 percent, the lowest apart from the Covid years. Consumers are drinking more at home, in their gardens, or garages,” Slunečko confirmed.

Fifteen years ago, more than half of Czech beer was consumed in pubs and restaurants. The overall number of breweries also fell last year, barely staying above 20 million hectolitres, a 2.7 percent year-on-year decline. Of this, 15.2 million hectolitres were consumed domestically, with the rest exported.

Compared to 2019, Czechs drank 1.35 million hectolitres less, reducing consumption by 270 million beers, or 27 beers per person per year.

Luboš Kastner from the Czech Gastronomic Institute noted that changing behaviors contribute to the decline.

“The younger generation has stopped drinking, and hard alcohol sales are falling at a double-digit rate. Beer consumption will not return to previous levels,” he said.

Kastner predicts the Czech market will soon resemble the German one, with pubs being smaller and divided into two categories: one focusing on customer experience and the other on price. “The space in between will be filled with concepts like in Germany, where kebabs and fast food are thriving,” he explained.

To combat the decline, the Czech Association of Breweries and Maltings aims to have Czech beer culture listed as an intangible cultural heritage.

“It attracts foreign tourists who want to see the sights, taste the beer, and pair it with unique dishes,” he said.

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