The global beer market declined over the last year, with a sharp fall in consumption in China.

 

2016年全球啤酒市场销售额下降，中国啤酒消费量暴跌。

 

That's according to a report into the annual state of the alcoholic¹ beverage² industry, released by the London-based International Wine and Spirits Research.

 

Overall, people around the world are drinking 1.3 percent less beer than last year, with demand in the UK falling in line with that figure and Chinese consuming 4.2 percent less.

 

That's not the biggest drop, however. Beer drinkers in Russia are enjoying a whopping 7.8 percent less beer than in 2016.

 

So what's behind the fall? The report suggests that consumers are becoming more health conscious, and so are limiting their consumption. Additionally, some drinks continue to grow in popularity - for example, Gin and Tonic³ seems to be more popular than ever.

 

Despite the decline, there's nevertheless been some positive news for Chinese and British brewers as trade in beverages⁴ between the two countries continues to grow.

 

For example, we reported in March that a delicious beer that was originally never intended to be drunk is going to be available in China after a distribution agreement was signed.

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