Britons drinking less beer as recession bites

Many pubs across Britain have closed their operation and the usual buzz surrounding them is missing as recession-hit people choose not to take to the pint to relax.

Besides job losses and economic crisis, beer lovers are also grappling with the 2 per cent rise in alcohol duty announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling last week.New figures released by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) show that beer sales in the UK have plummeted by more than 8 per cent in a year, underlining the ongoing pressure on the ailing drinks and hospitality industry in the grip of recession.

The BBPA said fall in sales in the first quarter of 2009 was the highest first-quarter fall since 1997. The breakdown of sales across all outlets showed poor results, with many consumers opting to drink more cheaply at home. Supermarket and off-licence beer sales also dipped by 11 per cent.

The BBPA is the UK's leading organisation representing the brewing and pub sector. Its members account for 98 per cent of the beer brewed in the UK and own nearly two-thirds of Britain's 56,000 pubs. The organisation has led a campaign to try and persuade the government not to raise duty on alcohol further.