Drink sales were 1% off pre-Covid levels for the second week in a row in the seven days to 12 March, but inflation is impacting recovery, according to the latest CGA Drinks Recovery Tracker.
Average sales by value, in managed pubs, bars and restaurants were virtually back at levels seen before the pandemic, with categories such as spirits significantly up (+11%).
Beer sales were down -5%, cider -9% and wine -7%, but soft drinks also saw an increase, of +2%.
“Britain’s pubs, bars and restaurants have done well to haul drinks sales back to virtual parity with 2019,” Jonathan Jones, CGA’s managing director, UK and Ireland said.
“But with costs rising fast and many consumers now seeing their disposable incomes fall, it is increasingly tough to achieve real-terms growth.”
