Beer output and consumption down; non‑alcoholic drinks still rising

Brussels – In 2025, beer production in the European Union fell by 2.9 per cent and consumption by 3.2 per cent compared with the previous year, according to the European Beer Trends 2026 report. Since 2019, the cumulative decline has been 8.6 per cent for production and 9.2 per cent for consumption, reflecting the persistent difficulties facing the European brewing sector. 

Offsetting this trend is the steady growth of non-alcoholic beer, with volumes rising by 5.9 per cent in 2025 and by over 38 per cent since 2020: today, one in twelve beers consumed in the EU is non-alcoholic. “Even in a challenging economic climate, our sector continues to innovate and respond to changing consumer expectations,” said Julia Leferman, Secretary General of The Brewers of Europe.

 The report also highlights encouraging signs for the hospitality sector: after years of decline, the proportion of beer consumed in pubs, bars, and restaurants stabilised in 2025, albeit with significant differences between markets. European beer exports, on the other hand, fell to their lowest level since 2014. 

Despite the difficulties, the sector remains one of Europe’s leading agri-food sectors: around 10,000 breweries support some 2 million direct and indirect jobs, generating around 52 billion euros in added value annually.

Article written with the assistance of AI.