Germany: Beer consumption in Germany rose in 2006 for the first time in six years

Beer consumption in Germany rose in 2006 for the first time in six years, mainly as a result of the football World Cup and an unusually hot summer, Deutsche Presse-Agentur announced on January 16.

The German Brewers Association said Germans drank an average of 117.8 litres of beer last year, about the same quantity as 2003 and 2 per cent more than 2005.

Beer consumption has been steadily declining in Germany since 1976 when consumption in then West Germany was 151 litres per head.

After unification in 1990 consumption dropped from 142 litres in 1992 to below 120 litres in 2003.

Last summer saw temperatures soar above 30 Celsius for weeks on end in June and July. The World Cup in Germany also led to an increased demand for beer by soccer fans, the brewers association said.

E-malt.com, the global information source for the brewing and malting industry professionals. The bi-weekly E-malt.com Newsletters feature latest industry news, statistics in graphs and tables, world barley and malt prices, and other relevant information. Click here to get full access to E-malt.com. If you are a Castle Malting client, you can get free access to E-malt.com website and publications. Contact us for more information at marketing@castlemalting.com .