Germans are drinking less German beer but foreigners are drinking more of it, according to figures released on June 17 by Germany's 1,200 breweries. Domestic beer consumption dropped by 2.1 percent in 2003 to 105.5 million hectolitres, Expatica posted. That meant the average German drank 4.2 litres less beer during 2003 than in 2002, said Richard Weber, president of the German Brewers Association (DBB).

Speaking at the outset of the DBB's annual congress, he said the average German drank 117.5 litres of beer last year, dropping below the 120-litre mark for the first time in years. He cited cuts in consumer spending and Germany's controversial mandatory deposit on all canned beverages as contributing factors to the downturn.

Meanwhile, exports of German beer rose 1.0 percent to 12 million hectolitres with Italy, France, Britain and the United States all showing big gains in 2003.