Bulgaria: Beer consumption has dropped by 8.3% for the first five months of this year

Beer consumption in Bulgaria has dropped by 8.3% for the first five months of this year, due to the cool weather and the 50% excise duty imposed since the beginning of 2005, Bulgarian News Agency Novinte posted on June 15.

The sales of beer stand at some 140,000-150,000 hectoliters less than for the same period last year, according to data presented Tuesday by Andreas Seemueller.

The chairman of the Board of Directors of Kamenitza AD has been hopeful that in the summer months to come fans will re-discover their favorite drink and the brewery market will frame into sales typical for the hot season.

Kamenitza AD is part of Interbrew, renamed into InBev after the merger of Interbrew and AmBev. It sells half a dozen brands in Bulgarian market, including Kamenitza, Astika, Pleven, Slavena, Stella Artois and Beck's.

The annual beer consumption in Bulgaria has reached 61 litres per capita last year, while in 2003 it was 55 litres. Investments into the business have increased about 15 times over the last decade.

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