Beer sales are down in the “on trade”, shows latest figures

7th December 2010, 9:29am

Beer sales fell again in the year to September 2010 with sales in the “on trade” down 37.8% from peak levels, says the GMB Union.

However total alcohol volumes released for UK consumption in the year to September 2010 are up 2.1% on the levels for the year to November 2009, the lowest point in the recession, but down 0.45% on the figure for the year to August 2010.

In the year to September 2010 the volume of cider for UK consumption was down by 1.4% for the year to August 2010 and was 4.8% up for the year to September 2009.

Meanwhile during the same period spirits released for UK consumption was down by 0.7% on the volume for the year to August 2010 and was down 1.7% for the year to August 2009.

Hayley Brennan, GMB organizer for tied pub tenants, said: "Pubs that survived the blitz and the slump in the 1930s are going under. It is no exaggeration to say that the British pub is on life support and will not survive unless the poison of high rents and high prices injected by the pubcos is removed. There is no sign of this.

"Tenants are desperate and many fear that their pubs will not survive the rate of VAT increasing to 20% in January unless there is action by Government to end the market abuse by pubcos. There is no sign of this either."

Related Articles:

• 09 Feb 2010 - The GMB reveals details of 16 public meetings on beer tie

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