Beer sales slump to Great Depression levels: survey

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — A pint of beer may be an official "Icon of England", but sales have sunk to the lowest level in Britain since the Great Depression of the 1930s, according to figures released on Monday.

Total beer sales have dropped by 4.5 percent compared with the same quarter last year, while beer sales in pubs have plunged 10.6 percent, the British Beer and Pub Association said in its UK Quarterly Beer Barometer.

Some 107 million fewer pints were sold between April and June this year compared with the same three months in 2007 -- a drop of 1.2 million pints per day, said the BBPA, which represents the brewing and pub sector.

And in pubs, bars and restaurants, the fall was 144 million pints, down 1.6 million pints per day.

The BBPA blamed the drop on...