Italy: Beer consumption is growing faster than wine

Italy | Good news from Italy: Beer sales are ticking over nicely. According to the 2022 annual report published by Assobirra, an industry body, beer consumption reached 37.8 litres per capita, two litres more than in 2021.

In total, Italians drank 22.3 million hl beer, thanks to a steady increase in consumption since 2012, with the exception of 2020, when it declined due to the pandemic and government restrictions.

Beer consumption focuses on the on-premise

Beer is increasingly finding its way into Italians' shopping baskets, despite skyrocketing inflation and price increases that have hit the industry, from raw materials to energy. But beer is still predominantly consumed outside the home, in particular by younger people. When going out, they will enjoy their beer with a pizza.

In 2022, overall beer consumption was up 6 percent over 2021, according to Assobirra, while domestic beer production increased 3.3 percent to 18.4 million hl. Imported beer brands, which continue to be highly valued by Italian consumers, saw their sales increase 10 percent to reach 7.8 million hl.

Wine consumption, on the other hand, only went up by one litre per capita between 2021 and 2022: from 43 litres to 44 litres. However, Italy recorded the second-highest per capita wine consumption in the world, after Portugal (67.5 litres per capita).

Microbreweries raise interest in beer

According to data from Assobirra, microbreweries occupy an important place in the country’s beer market. 500,000 hl of craft beer were produced in 2022, valuing the segment at EUR 400 million (USD 440 million). Unionbirrai, the craft brewers’ industry body, reported that in Italy there were 1,326 microbreweries in operation in 2022, employing more than 9,000 people - a figure that has doubled since 2015.

Today, Italy ranks sixth in Europe for the number of breweries behind France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.