Drinks sales in Britain’s pubs, bars, and restaurants are lagging last year’s levels as Christmas trading nears, CGA by NIQ’s Daily Drinks Tracker shows.
Average sales in managed venues in the seven days to Saturday, 23rd November, were 9% down on the same week in 2023. It follows an up-and-down autumn for the on-trade, and a flat second week of November.
Widespread chilly weather pushed down sales throughout the week, with Sunday the only day with growth. Weekend sales also struggled, falling by 8% on Friday and by 14% on Saturday, as Storm Bert hit some parts of Britain. In between, numbers were between 8% and 11% behind last year every day from Monday to Thursday.
All major drinks categories recorded year-on-year losses in sales, the Daily Drinks Tracker shows. Beer (down 5%), cider (down 8%), wine (down 7%), and soft drinks (down 11%) were all affected by the drop in footfall. Spirits sales fell 20% — one of the steepest year-on-year drops of 2024, though recent CGA research has highlighted potential to revive sales in the run-up to Christmas.
“The combination of patchy consumer confidence and unfavourable weather has extended autumn’s weak trading into winter,” said Rachel Weller, CGA by NIQ’s commercial lead, UK and Ireland.
“More positively, some managed groups continue to generate good growth, and brighter conditions should help to bring more people out to the on-premise.
“Operators and suppliers will be hoping that a slow November indicates that consumers are saving up for a big spend on Christmas celebrations, rather than a sign of things to come in December.”
