Beer volumes in pubs fell 5.8% in the second quarter of 2013, against difficult comparatives with Euro 2012 and the Diamond Jubilee double bank holiday in the same period last year.
Volumes in the off-trade fell 3.6%, the lowest second quarter fall since 2005. Overall beer volumes across both channels were down 4.8%, the British Beer & Pub Association figures show.
Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “The figures clearly show that the market for one of our iconic products is still very challenging. The benefits of the beer duty tax cut, and the increased investment that this will bring to the beer and pub sector, will take time to bear fruit. Yesterday’s financial results saw brewers and pub companies stepping up investment and focusing on export markets.
“The ending of the escalator means that next year’s automatic, above-inflation tax increase has been cancelled, and quite rightly. However, the Government should continue to look for ways to help the sector.”
