Alcohol consumption world wide in decline – bar gin

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 percent last year, driven by a 1.8 percent fall in beer sales. After several years of rising popularity, cider sales also slammed into reverse, falling 1.5 percent on the back of a 15.2 percent slump in the US.

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

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

Sales of beer fell 4.2 percent in China, 5.3 percent in Brazil and 7.8 percent in Russia. A 4.3 percent drop in vodka sales was largely driven by a 9.3 percent fall in Russia.

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

Britons bought the equivalent of 40 million bottles – or 1.1 billion G&Ts – last year.