EU: Beer sales statistics of the EU including Norway and Switzerland (figure for Luxemburg is not final yet) show sharp declines of 2003 beer sales in Germany (105,300 thousand hl versus 108,336 thousand hl in 2002) and Ireland (5,315 thousand hl versus 8,113 thousand hl in 2002), but good increases in Italy, Spain and the U.K. Altogether beer output in Western Europe dropped from 316.5 million hl to 315.5 million hl, a minus of 0,3 %. Since the high of 1995 of 325.3 million hl the output fell by 3 %, but since 2000 beer sales have increased. “Experts” continue to say that the beer industry is doomed to lose its high standing. “So far world statistics prove the contrary, and even Western Europe does not look so bad”.

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