Sales of drinks out-of-home drinks in the week to 29 January were 8% down on the equivalent period in 2020 – the first time the weekly comparison has dropped into single digits since November, CGA’s latest Drinks Recovery Tracker has found.
The week, which included three full days of trading without Plan B restrictions in England, saw sales last Thursday and Saturday (27 and 29 January) at just 4% and 6% behind 2020 levels, suggesting consumers are slowly gaining confidence in going out again, CGA said.
In Scotland and Wales, where restrictions have been slower to ease, weekly sales were 17% and 20% behind 2020 levels, though both numbers represent week-on-week improvements.
The data showed that spirits performed well ahead of other drinks categories - continuing a pattern established since the end of Britain’s first lockdown – with sales up 3% on the same week in 2020 thanks to the ongoing popularity of cocktails.
Sales of beer (-12%), cider (-13%), wine (-14%) and soft drinks (-10%) lagged but all four categories were ahead of the previous seven days. “These figures leave us cautiously optimistic that pubs, bars and restaurants can build their sales over the coming weeks,” Jonathan Jones, CGA’s managing director, UK and Ireland, said.
“Consumer confidence about going out is gradually recovering, and the end to work-from-home instructions and restrictions on clubs will boost night-time visits in particular.
“COVID-19 challenges are far from over, sales are still well behind 2020 levels, and many people face a squeeze on disposable income. But after an immensely challenging December and January we can hopefully look forward to something of a recovery over February and beyond.”
