Germans Drinking Less Beer

Beer consumption in Germany, which has been steadily declining over the last decade, was marginally lower again last year, official data showed on Monday.

The federal statistics office Destatis calculated that German breweries sold a total 98.2 million hectoliters of beer in 2011, 0.1 percent less than in 2010.

Domestic beer sales were down 0.8 percent at 82.7 million hectoliters, while beer exports increased by 4.0 percent to 15.5 million hectoliters, Destatis said in a statement.

Just over a decade ago, in 2000, overall beer sales amounted to 109.8 million hectoliters and domestic beer sales to 98.8 million hectoliters, while beer exports stood at 11.0 million hectoliters.