France: Per capita beer consumption increases to 33 litres and number of craft brewers to about 2,000 in 2020

Craft beer continues to grow in popularity in France accounting for 7-8% of the local market in 2020, Le Figaro reported on August 10.

From 30 litres per capita in 2014, the annual consumption of beer increased to 33 litres in 6 years, according to the French Brewers Association (Brasseurs de France). This is partially explained by increasing demand for craft beer which was being brewed by about 2,000 local brewers last year.

According to Maxime Sostilhes of Brasseurs de France, craft beer is not competing with massive international brands. “These are two complimentary sectors. Depending on the occasion and the state of your budget, you will choose to drink one or the other kind,” he said.

Local beer production, despite an increase from 19 mln hl per year to 22 mln in just five years, is unable to satisfy the total demand so the nation imports significant volumes from Belgium and the Netherlands.

The global COVID-19 crisis impacted France’s beer sector just like it impacted other industries at home and abroad. Like all alcoholic drinks, beer saw demand drop sharply in 2020, mostly due to the closure of bars and restaurants and the cancellation of all usual festive activities. The brewers’ earnings dropped by about 40%. And if the sales of big beer makers like Heineken, AB InBev or Diageo improved in the first quarter of 2021, Maxime Sostilhes is worried about the impact on the craft beer industry. And unusually cold weather during the last several weeks is contributing to his worries.

“May and June were exceptional in terms of beer sales, but July was very difficult. Beer is frequently consumed to quench the thirst when it’s hot, which is not the case at the moment. So we are waiting to see how August will turn out. We are also concerned about the introduction of the health passes – especially since they are required for those wishing to eat or drink something even sitting at a bar’s outdoor terrace,” he said.