On-trade alcohol sales fell 6% over the summer as consumers switched to home-drinking, according to a report from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).
On-trade sales declined to 6.2m hectolitres in the 12 weeks to 13 July. Sales in the off-trade grew 3% to 8.4m hectolitres over the same period.
Quoted in The Telegraph, WSTA chief execuitive Mike Beale said: “Given the record hot summer, the fall in sales is a surprise and underlines the need for an early end to the alcohol duty escalator to provide some relief for struggling pubs, bars and restaurants.”
