It is no secret that the Spanish are big beer drinkers, but in the last year consumption has broken records. This is stated in the latest Socioeconomic Report of the Beer Sector in Spain presented this Monday by Cerveceros de España and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which indicates that in 2022 a per capita intake of 58 liters was reached. This is 8 liters more than in 2021 and the highest level recorded in the last four years. In total, 42.3 million hectoliters of this drink were ingested, about 6% more.
These figures still do not reach those of before the pandemic and consumption continues to be "moderate and within the framework of Mediterranean patterns," says the employer. Before the covid, 70% of beer was consumed outside the home and in 2022 this rate has not exceeded 60%. The report also reveals that in 90% of cases drinking beer is accompanied by food and that 94% occurs outside the home in a social context.
Some of the reasons that explain why Spaniards have drunk more beer in 2022 are the recovery of the hospitality industry and the boost in tourism and exports. It should be noted that the consumption of non-alcoholic options has also increased, no less than 13%. "It is a hallmark of our country, where we consume this variety as an alternative to the traditional one because the Spanish consumer is not looking for the alcoholic content of the drink, but rather its freshness and flavor," says the report.
Beer sales have also increased and, in this case, exceed the levels of pre-pandemic years. The brewing companies sold 38.95 million hectoliters of beer, exceeding the 36.32 million hectoliters in 2021 and 37.85 million in 2019. The Canary Islands, the Valencian Community, Albacete and Murcia are the areas that register the highest increase in sales.
The increase in tourism in 2022, a year in which the number of visitors doubled compared to the previous one, had a positive impact on this result, especially due to its close link to the hospitality industry.
There are also news regarding production. Spain has become the second largest beer producer in Europe in 2022, with a total of 41.14 million hectoliters, 7.85% more than the previous year. It lags behind Germany (87.83 million hectoliters), but ahead of Poland (38.30 million hectoliters). The Top 10 is completed by the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the Czech Republic, Italy and Romania.
The world classification is headed by China, with 359.74 million hectoliters, which is quite ahead of the United States (203.56 million hectoliters). Spain, in position number eight, is behind Vietnam, with 42 million hectoliters.
Finally, the report highlights that in 2022, between 2.4 and 2.5 million hectares of barley were cultivated in our country. Some 770,000 tons of this were used to make malt, one of the main ingredients of this drink. As for hops, the cultivated area in Spain in 2022 was about 580 hectares, a higher figure than the previous year.
