Customers lose thirst for beer

PEOPLE around the world are drinking less beer, fuelling a global dip in alcohol sales.

Russians are drinking less vodka as their economy declines, while the Americans have fallen out of love with cider.

One of the few drinks to see an increase in demand was gin, according to the International Wine and Spirits Record.

The global market for alcoholic drinks fell 1.3% last year, driven by a 1.8% fall in beer sales.

After several years of rising popularity, cider sales also slammed into reverse, falling 1.5% on the back of a 15.2% slump in the US.

The overall fall in alcohol sales across the world is far greater than the average dip of 0.3% over the past five years.

Several major economies among them China, Russia and Brazil – three of the world’s biggest beer markets – have endured a slowdown.

Sales of beer fell 4.2% in China, 5.3% in Brazil and 7.8% in Russia.

A 4.3% drop in vodka sales was largely driven by a 9.3% fall in Russia.

But amid the wider decline, the gin industry is booming, with global sales rising 3.7%.

Britons bought the equivalent of 40 million bottles or 1.1 billion gin and tonics last year.