IT MAY surprise those who see Britain as a nation of harddrinking beer-swillers, but it appears that the nation is turning its back on strong ales, with two billion fewer units of alcohol consumed in the past two years.
Official figures show that between 2011 and 2013 the number of units of alcohol sold has fallen by 1.9billion.
But much of the decline is because the average strength of beer sold has fallen from 4.42 per cent to 4.14 per cent over the period, the Department of Health report says.
Experts said the decline is a result of efforts by the alcohol industry to offer a greater choice of lower-strength drinks, in a move welcomed by increasingly health-conscious consumers.
The British Beer and Pub Association said brewers are responding to consumer demand and to government decisions to offer tax relief on lower-strength beers.
One of the changes, in 2011, meant lower tax on beers with 2.8 per cent alcohol or less.
Since then, a number of manufacturers have reduced the strength of best-selling products, and launched loweralcohol products.
Carlsberg UK reduced the strength of its Skol lager from 3 per cent to 2.8 per cent, while Greene King launched a new product, Tolly English Ale, at 2.8 per cent.
Meanwhile, high strengthlagers Stella Artois, Budweiser and Becks have been reduced from 5 per cent to 4.8 per cent, and John Smith’s Extra Smooth ale has fallen from 3.8 per cent to 3.6 per cent.
Jane Ellison, public health minister, said that more than 30 companies had between them removed 1.3billion units of alcohol from the market, by reducing the strength of their products.
She said: “A healthier option is becoming more popular and we are helping people who want to reduce their alcohol intake whilst still enjoying a drink.”
Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said consumers were choosing lower alcohol drinks for a number of reasons, including their lower calorie content.
“British brewers have responded to consumer demand for a greater range and choice of lower-strength beers, many with new flavours and ingredients,” she said.
“We’ve seen the Government’s decision to give 50 per cent tax relief to lowerstrength beers combining with a growth in interest among consumers for lower-strength drinks like beer, that are also lower in calories.”
Henry Ashworth, chief exec- New lower-strength brands introduced:
Foster’s Radler – 2% (lager with cloudy lemon) Tolly English Ale – 2.8% Carling Zest – 2.8% Carslberg Citrus – 2.8% utive of Portman Group, the drinks industry body, said brewers had worked in partnership with government to help ensure more responsible drinking.
Tom Smith, from Alcohol Concern, said the change was welcome, but warned that the UK is one of the few European countries where liver disease remains on the increase.
“While we welcome the decrease in the number of alcohol units in the market, we can’t ignore the fact our NHS and communities continue to strain under the burden of alcohol harms,” he said.
The charity is calling for a minimum unit price for alcohol and tighter restrictions on alcohol advertising.
Last month figures from the Office for National Statistics showed a dramatic rise in the number of young people shunning alcohol.
The number of under-25s opting for abstinence has leapt by 40 per cent in just eight years as young people overtake the elderly as the most sober generation.
The ONS also found that more than a quarter of young people do not drink alcohol at all, while heavy nights of drinking are in decline.
However, global figures show the UK’s binge drinking levels are still among the highest in the world. The World Health Organisation research examined 196 countries and placed the UK 13th highest for heavy drinking.
Some 28 per cent of Britons were classed as having had an episode of heavy drinking in the previous month compared with a global average of 16 per cent.
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