E.U. Beer Consumption Fell 3.2% in 2025

Beer production and consumption fell again across the European Union in 2025, extending a slowdown that has weighed on the brewing industry since before the pandemic, according to the European Beer Trends 2026 report released Thursday by The Brewers of Europe.

The report said beer production in the bloc declined 2.9% from 2024, while consumption dropped 3.2%, a sign of continued economic uncertainty and changing consumer habits. Over a longer period, the decline is sharper. Since 2019, beer production in the European Union has fallen 8.6% and consumption is down 9.2%, underscoring the pressure facing brewers across the region.

Against that backdrop, Spain stood out as one of the strongest performers in Europe. While much of the continent remains below pre-pandemic levels, Spain’s beer production is now 5.1% above 2019 and total consumption reached 43.4 million hectoliters, up 5.2% from before Covid. The figures point to a market that has recovered more fully than many of its European peers, supported by Spain’s large hospitality sector, its food culture and a pattern of moderate, social drinking.

In 2025, Spain was also one of the few countries in the European Union to post growth in beer production. Output rose 0.5%, allowing the country to retain its position as the bloc’s second-largest beer producer. Consumption in Spain was also relatively stable. Apparent consumption slipped just 0.5% from the previous year, a modest change compared with broader European declines.

One of the clearest shifts in the European market was the continued rise of nonalcoholic beer. The Brewers of Europe said volumes in that category increased 5.87% in 2025 and have grown more than 38% since 2020. Nonalcoholic beer now accounts for one out of every 12 beers consumed in the European Union, reflecting changing preferences and sustained investment by brewers in new products and quality improvements.

Spain remains one of the strongest markets for that segment. Sales of nonalcoholic beer rose 4.6% in 2025 and now represent 14% of all beer consumed in the country. That means roughly one out of every seven beers consumed in Spain is alcohol-free, a level that places it among Europe’s most established markets for the category.

Trade data in the report showed another weak year for Europe’s brewers abroad. Beer exports from the European Union declined again in 2025 and fell to their lowest level since 2014, hurt by softer global demand and a more difficult international trade environment. Spain again moved against the broader trend. Its beer exports increased by nearly 8% in 2025, adding to signs that its brewing sector has remained competitive both at home and overseas.

Even with weaker production, lower consumption and softer exports across much of Europe, brewing remains one of the continent’s major food and beverage industries. The Brewers of Europe estimates that about 10,000 breweries operate across Europe, supporting around two million direct and indirect jobs and generating roughly €52 billion in added value each year through links to farming, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism.

“The beer sector is much more than what is poured into a glass,” Julia Leferman, secretary general of The Brewers of Europe, said in a statement accompanying the report. “It brings people together while supporting farmers, brewers, hospitality businesses and local communities across Europe.” She added that even in a difficult economic climate, brewers continue to adapt to shifting consumer expectations and that the steady growth of nonalcoholic beer shows how producers are expanding choice for drinkers.

The latest figures suggest that Europe’s brewing industry is still adjusting to a market shaped by inflation pressures, cautious household spending and evolving attitudes toward alcohol. For Spain, however, the numbers point to a different trajectory, one tied closely to bars, restaurants and tourism, where beer remains deeply linked to everyday social life and dining culture.