Malta registers ‘increase’ in per capita beer consumption

Figures released by European beer body ‘Brewers of Europe’ shows that Malta, Estonia, Norway and Sweden were the only amongst the 27 EU states that registered an increase in per capita consumption of beer.  

The statistics show how consumers across Europe are consuming less beer, putting pressure on big brewers amid tough economic conditions.

The trade body has figures for all 27 EU member states, plus Norway, Switzerland, Croatia and Turkey, but not Russia. 

Eastern Europe has had a particularly torrid time, and particularly Romania, Hungary, Slovenia and Czech. The UK and Netherlands, meanwhile, have shown the worst falls in Western Europe.