Queen’s 90th and Euro 2016 offer hopes to pubs as beer sales decline steadies
The decline of beer sales is steadying – and the Queen has helped improve the fortunes of pubs further, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.
The decline of sales slowed in the first quarter of 2016, falling one per cent on the first quarter of 2015, according to the Beer Barometer.
It said this marked the smallest first-quarter drop since 2008.
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After a 42 per cent rise in tax on beer between 2008 and 2013, BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said beer duty cuts over the last three years have helped build confidence.
She said: “Beer sales are certainly doing better overall, and there are good prospects for [the second quarter], with Euro 2016 and the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations a key draw for pubs.
"To avoid any return to the sharp declines in sales of recent years, we will need continued focus from the government on the tax burden, not just on beer, but also on pubs, through a fairer business rates regime and other burdens on small business.”
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The BBPA said the improvement was particularly noticeable in on-trade, meaning sales from pubs and licenced premises, which dropped 0.2 per cent year on year. This was the smallest first-quarter decline since 2002.
Off-trade sales, from supermarkets and other shops for example, fell 1.8 per cent.
The BBPA said the growth was being spurred by innovation, investment and industry campaigns.