The closure of bars and restaurants in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus meant that Germans bought much less beer last year. The German Brewing Association said the drop was "unprecedented" in the postwar period.
Beer sales in Germany fell 5.5% in 2020 from a year earlier due to a limitation to the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Bureau of Statistics said.
According to official figures, German breweries and distributors sold a total of 8.7 billion liters (2.3 billion gallons).
Impact of coronavirus lockdown
Sales of German beer have been declining for years as a result of health problems and other factors. They have now fallen by 22.3% since 1993. But last year’s decline was particularly sharp.
Monthly analysis indicated the impact of coronavirus restriction. Bars and restaurants in Germany were closed during locks from March to May. They closed again in early November. Accordingly, sales fell 17.3% in November and 14.1% in November. Sales rose during the summer months when restrictions on bars and restaurants were eased.
Major events and festivals where a large amount of beer is usually consumed, including Oktoberfest, have been canceled.
The lowest sales since the postwar period
The German Brewers' Association said the situation was "dramatic and unprecedented in the post-war period". The most affected are breweries, which were usually sold to gastronomic and organizational companies, and in some cases recorded a decline of up to 70% in sales. Those who sold to stores, who were allowed to stay open, survived the crisis better. The association called for "targeted and determined" help from the federal government.
Decrease of exports
Domestic sales are most important for German breweries, as they account for about 83% of total sales. But German beer exports within the EU also suffered last year. They fell 13.1% year-on-year to 778.2 million gallons (206 million gallons). Exports to countries outside the EU rose 3.7% to 725.3 million liters (192 million gallons).
