Czech beer consumption dropped by five liters per head to 138 liters per year. On the other hand, beer exports were up by 4.5 percent.
In 2017, the Czech Republic produced 20.3 million hectolitres of beer, down 0.7% from the previous year. The statistic was published on Tuesday by the Czech Brewery and Malt Association (ČSPS).
Exports of beer in 2017 totaled 4.6 million hectoliters, an increase of 4.5 percent year-on-year. The biggest markets were Slovakia, Germany, Poland, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
“From our point of view, the year was not entirely successful, mainly because of poor results in the domestic market, excessive regulation and bureaucracy,” ČSPS chairman František Šámal said.
According to him, the drop was caused by lower demand on the domestic market which the Czech Association of Malt Houses and Beer Brewers ascribes to the smoking ban in pubs and restaurants that went into effect in May of 2017.
For the first time in history, sales of 11 degree and 12 degree have overtaken sales of over lower quality beers. Degrees refer to a beer’s density due to malt sugar content before brewing. This affects the alcohol content as well as the flavor and body of the beer.
Import of foreign beer to the Czech Republic increased by 2.3% to 333 thousand hectoliters.
Author: red
