After the decline observed in 2020 as a result of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, Beer consumption rebounded last year and returned to levels seen prior to the arrival of covid-19 in the country.
With bars, restaurants and parties that were slowly returning to normal, in 2021 beer consumption totaled 102.5 million liters and grew 7.5% compared to the previous year. In addition, that amount was slightly higher than the 102.1 million liters registered in all of 2019according to the physical volume data sold in the local market and declared by manufacturers and importers before the General Tax Directorate (DGI) for the determination of the Specific Internal Tax (Imesi).
Beer consumption also fell with two consecutive years of declinealthough it remained for below the record of 108 million liters that had been reached in 2018.
The DGI figures also reveal a new growth in the imported beer. Last year it reached 35.5 million liters and increased for the third consecutive year, with a 34.6% share of the total. In other words, just over 3 out of every 10 liters tasted came from abroad. Meanwhile, hehe share of national product was 67 million liters.
Rebound in soft drinks and less mineral water
Mineral water consumption fell for the third consecutive year (-3.1%) with 328.7 million liters. In any case, it is worth noting that the consumption volumes are still much higher than a decade ago. Between 2011 and 2018 the growth was constant and went from about 220 million liters per year to 360 million liters, according to DGI data processed by The Observer.
A possible explanation lies in the changes in the consumption habits of the population in favor of healthier products. It is also necessary to take into account the problems that have occurred in recent times with OSE’s drinking water. In many homes this water has stopped being consumed and is replaced by bottled mineral waters.
And in the category of cola and soft drinks, consumption grew again after six consecutive years of decline. Last year sales totaled 291.3 million liters and expanded 3.3% compared to the first year of the pandemic (2020), when that segment showed the lowest consumption figures since 2009. The 2021 numbers were also slightly higher than those registered in 2019 prior to the pandemic (286 million liters). Even so, the volume of consumption remains far from the peak registered in 2014 with 338 million liters.
Meanwhile, heas juice-based drinks that had been the only ones that had increased in consumption during the first year of the pandemic fell. In 2021, the retraction was 3% and consumption stood at 210 million liters, although the volume was slightly higher than in 2019 prior to the crisis. In this category are drinks with at least 10% fruit juice, or 5% if it is lemon, according to the DGI classification.
Diego Battiste
Slight decline in wine
While the demand for beer had fallen and whiskey had remained largely unchanged, In the first year of the pandemic, wine consumption had been the big winner. People spent more time at home and national wine consumption at the local level rose to 69.1 million liters, the highest record since 2013. However, during 2021 this trend was corrected and consumption registered a slight decrease of 5 .5%, according to data from the National Viticulture Institute (Inavi) published by El País weeks ago.
less domestic whiskey
In the case of whiskey, taxes were paid on 4.7 million liters last year and the declared volume was very similar to that of 2019. In this case, the preference for imported brands increased for the fourth consecutive year, and whiskey fell again whose participation bordered just 0.5 million liters. It is the lowest amount in the historical series published by the DGI that begins in 1987.
