A new report from the Irish Brewers Association (IBA), has found that beer held a 45% market share in 2018, making it the nation’s favourite alcoholic beverage last year.
The 2018 Beer Market Report added that total beer sales increased by 3% in 2018, despite just a 0.4% growth in consumption per capita.
The report suggested that sales were boosted by an increase in both employment and disposable income.
It also cited a 3.8% increase in beer production last year as a driver of growth, as direct employment in the brewing sector rose by 3% last year.
Beer Growth
In terms of the market share of beer variants, lager saw the biggest growth in its market share, increasing to 63.8%.
Stout’s market share dropped from 32.2% to 29.3% while ale’s share fell marginally to 6.3%.
Non-alcoholic beer sales rose by 60% and currently has a 0.6% market share.
Jonathan McDade, Head of the Irish Brewers Association, welcomed the growth in beer sales, adding that the brewing sector continues to make a significant contribution to the exchequer.
He also called on the Government to assist the industry by reducing excise on beer in the forthcoming budget.
“In 2018 beer contributed €430 million to the exchequer in excise alone, an increase on the 2017 figure of €424 million,” McDade explained.
“Irish beer drinkers continue to pay the second-highest rate of excise on beer in the European Union. In 2012 and 2013, beer excise rates rose by 42% which means that since 2009 the brewing sector has contributed €3.8 billion to the exchequer in excise alone."
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
