COVID-19 is still battering beer sales, with 1.5bn fewer pints being pulled in Britain’s pubs last year compared to 2019, before the pandemic struck.
Pub beer sales fell by 38% last year, with an on-trade loss of £5.7bn from beer sales alone, according to figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).
In 2020, trading was down 55% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
"Beer is the most popular drink that is sold in our pubs. But when people are drinking at home, they seem to be choosing higher strength products,” BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin told Sky News.
“That is a concern and a worry - not only for the survival of our trade and our pubs but, of course, in terms of health and helping people moderate their consumption.”
She called for government support for lower-strength products like beer.
Sam Foster, the director of operations at the Crown And Kettle in Manchester, told Sky News that 2021 was “particularly difficult” because of frequent changes to regulations.
Manchester Brewing Company director Mellor said the figures were not surprising but are disheartening.
"At the moment I think people have got used to drinking at home and being at home,” he told Sky.
"But I think slowly over the course of the year, you're going to see the confidence come back and you'll see people going out in greater numbers, and you'll see the number of pints being sold over the bar increase. I hope so anyway."