Sales of beer in UK pubs declined by 4% in 2007, according to market research company Market & Business Development (MBD), while sales of wines and ciders grew by 1%.

This decline in beer turnover consolidated a 1% drop in consumption in 2006. Factors behind the fall included competition from cheap supermarket alcohol, the smoking ban, and a general switch among consumers towards other drinks.

Sales from food, however, grew by 3% in 2007, while turnover from other drinks and bag snacks increased by 1%.

MBD predicts further falls in beer sales during the four years to 2012 while food, wines and ciders, bag snacks and accommodation will continue to increase their share of the sales mix.

The UK Public Houses Market Development report is compiled quarterley and annually by Market & Business Development. It costs £600 for a single annual report or £725 for four quarterly reports.

Turnover of public houses in the UK, by product

Product	2001	2002	2003
Beer	£6.3b	£6.5b	£6.63b
Spirits & liqueurs	£1.36b	£1.34b	£1.32b
Wines & ciders	£810m	£789m	£812m
Meals	£2.93b	£3.2b	£3.25b
Accommodation	£943m	£980m	£1.01b
Soft drinks & bag snacks	£1.55b	£1.65b	£1.74b
Other †	£544m	£540m	£556m
Total	£14.5b	£15b	£15.3b

 

 

Product	2004	2005	2006
Beer	£6.72b	£6.81b	£6.76b
Spirits & liqueurs	£1.34b	£1.36b	£1.41b
Wines & ciders	£825m	£838m	£883m
Meals	£3.3b	£3.39b	£3.59b
Accommodation	£1.02b	£1.04b	£1.09b
Soft drinks & bag snacks	£1.76b	£1.79b	£1.86b
Other †	£566m	£574m	£584m
Total	£15.5b	£15.8b	£15.6b

Product	2007	2008*	2012*
Beer	£6.46b	£6.07b	£5.79b
Spirits & liqueurs	£1.38b	£1.34b	£1.35b
Wines & ciders	£896m	£887m	£927m
Meals	£3.72b	£3.74b	£4b
Accommodation	£1.09b	£1.07b	£1.09b
Soft drinks & bag snacks	£1.88b	£1.9b	£2.08b
Other †	£574m	£558m	£546m
Total	£15.9b	£15.57b	£15.79b

† Other includes cigarettes and gaming machines
* represents forecast figures

Source: MBD and trade estimates