Beer consumption in the Czech Republic continues to decline. Sales are driven by non-alcoholic variants

The total production of Czech beer in 2023 was just over 20 million hectoliters, which represents a year-on-year decrease of 2.7 percent. Of this, 15.2 million hectoliters were consumed in Estonia, while the rest was exported abroad.

Compared to the last pre-pandemic year of 2019, they drank 1.35 million hectoliters of Czech beer less, the average consumption per inhabitant, compared to 2022, decreased from 136 to 128 liters per year.

For the fourth year in a row, the value of beer for the domestic market is below the level of 2010. Unfortunately, the negative economic situation hindered the sales of beer in the Czech Republic in 2016, according to Tom Sluneko, executive director of the Czech Association of Breweries and Malthouses.

According to him, this trend has a negative effect on pubs and restaurants, especially those in small towns and villages.

At the same time, we observe a changing consumer habits, which are becoming more and more interested in non-alcoholic beer and mixed drinks on the beer market, added the editor.

The total production of this segment, i.e. non-alcohol, was 1.42 million hectoliters last year, which represents an average growth of 9.3 percent. In comparison with 2019, this is not a significant increase (34.5 percent).

In connection with the sale of non-alcoholic beer and beer mix, consumption is increasing for cans, which account for about 20 percent of the total budget. A slight decrease was recorded by the barrels in the last year, according to them, it fell below one-tenth to 29 percent, which is related to the slow return of consumers to pubs and restaurants. Beer in PET bottles maintains an eight percent share of the total budget, and they do not drink or buy beer in glass bottles, which had a 40 percent share of the total budget last year.

I’d rather drink at home

After the previous slight increase in the consumption of aged beer, in 2023 the so-called on-trade sales in pubs and restaurants dropped again to a total of 30 percent. With the exception of the covid years, this is the lowest value in history, and as long as it continues, the consumer’s inclination to consume beer at home. Just 15 years ago, less than half (51%) of Czech beer was drunk in pubs and restaurants.

The consumption of beer in gastronomy also affects the overall average consumption of beer per inhabitant. Last year, it reached a historic low of 128 liters and surpassed even the average consumption value from the time of the covid restrictions. According to the statistics, the traditional medicine with a degree of 11 and 12 percent, which according to sales increased from 57.3 percent, while according to beer beer fell to 38.2 percent.

I developed

After two years of growth, the export of Czech beer abroad saw a decline last year. Beer imports between countries fell by 4.3 percent to a total of 5.17 million hectoliters, corresponding to the values ​​from 2018. The most important export markets are still Slovakia, Germany and Poland. Year after year, import values ​​have been falling, with beer imports falling by 21 percent. In the last year, production of beer from abroad accounted for only 2.9 percent of the total domestic consumption.