The BBPA has today published its Annual Statistical Handbook 2016, showing that overall UK consumption of alcohol per head remains stable, alongside a wealth of other data. The handbook is a ‘must read’ for anyone with a close interest in the UK drinks’ sector.

Across the European Union, alcohol consumption has remained broadly flat, with some countries, the UK included, seeing declines in per-head consumption.  Estonia, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic consume the most alcohol per head of population.

When it comes to beer, UK consumption is below the EU average, of around 72 litres per head, per year.

Alongside consumption trends, the handbook covers other key issues such as alcohol taxation; it shows that UK beer duty is 54 per cent higher than it was in 2000, despite recent cuts to the duty rate. The BBPA says the data here shows that much more work needs to be done to cut beer duty in the UK, with the UK rate still a staggering 14 times that of Germany.

Other trends include the astonishing growth in the number of breweries; between 2000 and 2015, the number rose by 1,380. On employment trends, the Handbook shows that 54 per cent of pub staff in the UK are female.

On beer trends, cask ale continued to make up 8.2 per cent of the total beer market, with the very significant shift from ales and stouts to lagers, observed over the last 40 years, beginning to reverse.

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive, BBPA, comments: “Many of the figures detailed in our updated Stats Handbook are encouraging for our industry, but the UK’s high duty rate on beer is still a cause for concern. We will continue to work with the Government to bring our rate more in line with other European nations and help better support our industry.

Our new Handbook again underlines that with the right policies for the beer and pub sector, there is huge scope for us to help grow the economy, creating new jobs and careers, with great venues and beers.”