Rehlinger added: “Germans are drinking their beer more consciously. And as a beer ambassador, I advocate for the art of brewing and the craft closely tied to our culture, which combines innovation and diversity with a great deal of tradition.”
According to a Monday press release from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, total domestic and foreign beer sales dropped below 8 billion liters last year for the first time since records began in 1993. Over 80 per cent of the beer was sold in Germany; the figures do not include non-alcoholic beer or malt drinks.
According to the Brewers’ Association, non-alcoholic beer accounted for 10 percent of total beer sales and ranked as the third-most popular beer category in Germany. The association added that falling economic consumption by people in general was also weighing on beer sales. “The situation of gastronomy is still worrying,” the statement said.
Germany is the world’s largest producer of non-alcoholic beer, the industry lobby noted. “People are looking for high-quality, flavorful beers that fit every life situation,” said Christian Weber, president of the Brewers’ Association.
The association urging politicians to lower energy costs, saying energy and labor are the biggest cost drivers for breweries.
On the issue, Rehlinger told POLITICO: “Smaller and larger breweries need competitive production conditions, such as affordable energy prices or targeted support — for example, for investments in sustainability.”