Germany: German beer sales drop further

Germany's breweries again sold less beer last year as people continue to turn to low-alcohol alternatives, the government said on January 30. Beer sales fell about 0.5 percent in 2005 to 105.3 million hectorliters, the Federal Statistics Office. However, sales of beer mixed with things such as lemonade and cola jumped 15 percent to 300 million liters, or some 3 percent of the total, according to Associated Press.

Experts say a more health-aware public, high joblessness and a sluggish economy account for years of declining beer sales. Germans have lost the title of biggest per capita beer drinkers to the Czechs.

Though Germany still has hundreds of breweries, changing tastes have put many small beer makers out of business.

This trend follows that of previous years. As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, the beer producing and storing establishments in Germany sold less from year to year: 105.3 million hectolitres of beer in 2005, 105.9 in 2004, 107.8 in 2002, 109.8 in 2000 and 112.7 in 1997.