Record fall in UK alcohol consumption

THE UK has seen its biggest fall in alcohol consumption in 60 years, according to new figures from an industry body.

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said 2009 saw the sharpest year-on-year decline in alcohol consumption across the board since 1948.

The figures are compiled primarily from HM Revenue and Customs data for the amount of alcohol sold by producers and importers into the UK market.

They follow recent data from the Office of National Statistics which found 39% of men and 31% of women exceed the daily guidelines on how much alcohol they should drink.

The BBPA, which represents the brewing and pub sector, said the data showed a 6% decline in total alcohol consumption in 2009, making it the fourth annual decline in five years.

UK drinkers were now consuming 13% less alcohol than in 2004, with consumption remaining below the EU average.

UK taxes on beer remained among the highest compared with other countries and were the second highest duty rate in EU – 10 times higher than in Germany.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “These figures will confound many pundits as yet again they confirm that as a nation we are not drinking more.”