Belgium: Beer consumption estimated to have dropped by 4% last year

Just like several years before last year saw beer consumption in Belgium decline, the Haacht Brewery said in its annual report. According to the brewery’s estimate, Belgium consumed 4% less beer last year than in 2015.

If this estimate turns out to be correct, it will mean that the average per capita beer consumption in Belgium fell below 70 litres (to around 69 litres per capita) for the first time since records have begun. At the beginning of the century, it still was around 100 litres per capita.

According to Haacht, the decline was most strongly felt in the HoReCa sector (minus 5%) versus a decline of 3.5% in the off-trade.

Pils beer remains Belgium’s favourite, but Haacht said sales of its Pils brands (including domestic and export volumes) dropped by 1.5% last year. Its abbey beer (Tongerlo) and specialty brands (especially Charles Quint), on the contrary, enjoyed significant increase in popularity – plus 7.5% and 14.5%, respectively.

2017 seems to have started in a more positive key, with sales being better than during the first quarter of 2016, the company said.

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