Beer consumption in Czech Republic declines

Beer depletion successful the Czech Republic fell to a “historic” debased past year, pulling down brewery output and exports.

Domestic breweries produced 19.96 cardinal hectolitres successful 2025, down 4.3% twelvemonth connected year, according to the Czech Association of Breweries and Malteries.

That was 894,000 hectolitres little than successful 2024 and 1.6 cardinal hectolitres beneath 2019 levels, the commercialized assemblage said.

In a statement, Tomáš Slunečko, the association's enforcement director, said: “Compared to the pre-Covid year, 320 cardinal less fractional litres of Czech brew were drunk past twelvemonth successful the Czech Republic and abroad. Only 2021 was weaker successful the past 10 years but it was affected by the pandemic.”

Domestic depletion fell 3.2% to a “historic” debased of 121 litres per capita, with the mean Czech drinking 8 less ample beers than a twelvemonth earlier, the relation said.

Exports, which accounted for much than a 4th of full output, dropped 8.2% aft reaching a grounds successful 2024.

“Not lone we, but besides different brewery associations crossed Europe are noticing the declining brew consumption,” Slunečko said.

“For example, Slovaks oregon Germans, which are cardinal countries for the export of Czech beer, besides portion little brew than before, and this has a important interaction connected our exports.”

Slunečko said the displacement reflects changing user habits, with drinkers opting for moderation, healthier lifestyles and a broader scope of higher-quality beers.

The accumulation of non-alcoholic beer, including flavoured variants, roseate 4% to 1.68 cardinal hectolitres. Domestic depletion has much than doubled implicit the past decade, the relation said.

Beer drinking besides continued to displacement distant from pubs and restaurants. On-trade depletion accounted for conscionable 28% of home brew depletion past year, down 1 percent constituent from 2024, highlighting increasing unit connected hospitality venues.

“In our opinion, the hospitality manufacture needs support. In our opinion, a simplification successful VAT connected draught brew would assistance stabilise the sector,” Slunečko added.

By category, lagers strengthened their position, accounting for 59% of full consumption.

Last month, the German Brewers’ Association (DBB) said alcoholic brew income successful the state fell 5.8% successful 2025 to astir 6.4 cardinal litres, citing “demographic changes” and weaker user spending among the reasons for the decline.

By contrast, non-alcoholic brew output roseate 7.6% successful 2025 to astir 750 cardinal litres.

The DBB said non-alcoholic beers and mixed non-alcoholic brew drinks present marque up astir 11% of full brew depletion successful Germany, making the state the “European leader” successful non-alcoholic brew brewing.