German Beer Woes Continue

German beer sales, which rebounded briefly in 2004, resumed their slide in 2005.

Beer sales fell about 0.5% in 2005 to 10.5 billion liters, the Federal Statistics Office said. The government said consumers have turned to low alcohol alternatives – one of the reasons sales of beer mixed with things such as lemonade and cola jumped 15% to 300 million liters, or some 3% of the total.

Sales climbed marginally in 2004 with the help of exports, ending a five-year skid.

Beer sales have contracted more 15% in the last dozen years.

Germany remains the third highest per capita consumer of beer in world, behind Ireland and the Czech Republic.

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