Germans lose taste for beer as sales drop

Germans appear to be losing their taste for beer, with the country's breweries reporting a further decline in beer sales last year, data published by the Federal Statistics Office showed today.

A total 107.8 million hectolitres of beer were sold in 2001, 1.8 per cent less than in 2000, the office said.

With the exception of 1999 when beer sales edged up by 0.8 per cent, beer consumption has been on a constant downward trend since 1995.

Not included in the figures were alcohol-free beers, malt drinks or beers imported from outside Europe.

AFP