Pub beer sales boosted by World Cup

Pub beer sales were given a much-needed boost by the World Cup, but year-on-year sales are still sliding, latest figures show.

Sales of pints were up 166 million between April and June, compared to the first quarter of 2010.

Around 1.1 billion pints were sold in pubs during April to June compared with 923 million in January to March, the UK Quarterly Beer Barometer showed.

However, overall pub beer sales were down 6.3 per cent compared to the second quarter of 2009.

The news has prompted a fresh call from one trade leader for fairer treatment for beer in the government's review of alcohol tax.

Meanwhile, off-trade sales were up 13.7 per cent on the first quarter of 2010. Year-on-year sales are also up by 4.4 per cent.

Overall, the survey showed total beer sales are up by 2.9 per cent for the quarter, the first quarterly rise since 2006.

Year-on-year the beer market is down 1.4 per cent, but this is a major slowdown in the rate of decline seen in recent years.

Brigid Simmonds, the BBPA's chief executive, put the news in part down to the World Cup.

"It has certainly been a benefit to Britain's beer sector and we can now hope that the market is starting to turn a corner," she said.

Simmonds advised the figures should not generate complacency.

"While there is some reason for cheer, it has to be noted that beer sales in pubs are still falling and the nation's pubs need support," she added.

"The government must carefully consider how best to use its review of alcohol taxation to rebalance the tax system, freeze beer tax and support Britain's pubs."

"Sixty per cent of drink sales in community pubs are beer, so a beer tax break would be a real benefit to their business."