The Czech Republic: Czech beer culture added to e List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Czech Republic

Czech beer culture has been officially added to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Czech Republic, a significant step toward potential inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list, Prague Morning reported on January 31.

The nomination was prepared by the Czech Beer and Malt Association in cooperation with experts.

With this designation, the Czech Republic joins Germany and Belgium as the third European country to recognize beer culture as an intangible cultural asset.

Belgium’s beer culture was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, setting a precedent that Czech brewers hope to follow.

“We make no secret of our ambition to achieve UNESCO recognition. Now, we must demonstrate that we can preserve and develop our beer culture before taking the next step,” said Petr Slunečko, a representative involved in the nomination process.

To be considered for UNESCO status, an element must first be recognized on the national heritage list. Czech beer culture now stands alongside other national traditions, including Slovácko verbuňk dance, handmade glassmaking, and puppetry.

Žatec and the Žatec hop-growing region, integral to Czech brewing, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.

According to industry data, 96% of beer consumed in the Czech Republic is locally brewed, whether in Bohemia, Moravia, or Silesia.

In 2022, Czech breweries produced approximately 20 million hectolitres of beer, though output fell by 2.7% year-on-year. In 2023, beer consumption dropped by 9.7 litres per capita, reaching an average of 133.2 litres per person annually, as reported by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO).

A 2023 survey highlighted changing attitudes toward beer consumption. That year, 79% of men and 42% of women drank beer, a decline of 10% among men and 15% among women since 2016. The volume of beer consumed per week has also fallen, with 30% of beer now consumed in pubs and restaurants, compared to 50% in previous years.

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