Reference News Network, July 22 report: The Spanish newspaper "El Mundo" website published an article titled "German Beer Consumption Decline Triggers Alarm: A Cultural Crisis Threatens 1500 Breweries" on July 11, written by Elena Tejado, the main content is as follows:

German beer consumption has fallen to a historical low: 6.8% decline in the first few months of 2025. This is a heavy blow to a key sector of the German economy, which also faces the risk of losing its important position in the industrial structure.

Biergarten, these iconic open-air beer halls that originated in Munich in the 19th century have been part of the German summer landscape for decades. At that time, beer was only brewed in winter because there were no refrigerators, and cold fermentation required temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees Celsius. In summer, beer was stored in deep cellars by the Isar River and kept cool with ice blocks preserved from the frozen rivers in winter. To enhance the cooling effect, chestnut trees were planted above these cellars: these trees provided shade, and their shallow roots did not damage the underground structures. Over time, these places began to serve beer directly on-site and placed wooden tables under the trees. Thus, Biergarten came into being, becoming a popular social place.

Due to the unprecedented success of Biergarten, traditional beer halls became empty, so in 1812 the king had to intervene: only beer could be sold in Biergarten, but food was prohibited. Therefore, in Munich's Biergarten, people still have the habit of bringing their own meals.

In the summer of 2025, according to the general manager of Fichtelberg Beer, Volkmar Kür, despite the weather being "perfect for drinking beer," the industry had nothing to celebrate. Because Germany is experiencing an unprecedented beer crisis, many see it as the decline of a once "cultural icon."

Germans drink less beer than ever before. According to the Federal Statistics Office, beer sales in the first five months of this year were 34.5 million liters, the lowest level since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The newspaper "El Mundo" even ran the headline "The Danger of Beer Disappearing in Germany." However, the decline in sales (a 6.8% drop compared to the same period last year) is not an isolated event, but an acceleration of a trend that has continued for over a decade. In 2013, per capita annual consumption was 107 liters; by 2023, this number dropped to 88 liters. Compared to 2014, beer sales fell by 15.1% in 2024. Even the 2024 European Cup, which once gave the industry hope, failed to stop this downward trend.

The collapse in 2025 triggered all alarms. "This is a historical data," said Kür in an interview with "El Mundo," "it is worrying, and for many breweries, it means a real struggle for survival." There are currently about 1500 breweries in Germany.

In Germany, minors can drink beer under the supervision of their parents at the age of 14, and they can buy it themselves at the age of 16. In Italy, the drinking age is 18, and in the United States, it is 21. However, this lenient policy is now being questioned. Former Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach proposed abolishing supervision of drinking and banning minors under 16 from drinking. According to a survey, 65% of Germans support this measure.

In addition to the cultural crisis, the decline in beer consumption also reflects an increased awareness of the risks of alcohol. Industry experts point out that we live in an aging society. People are increasingly concerned about health and well-being. Combined with cost control, all these factors have had a negative impact on the beer market.

According to a survey conducted in 2023, only 24% of the "Z generation" youth (aged 18 to 28 at the time) regularly drank beer, while the percentage was 33% for the "Millennials" (born between 1980 and 1994), 35% for the "X generation" (born between 1965 and 1979), and 38% for the "Baby Boomers" (born between 1946 and 1964).

Now, the health trend is sweeping, driving while drunk is no longer allowed, many immigrants come from cultures with a tradition of abstinence, and the variety of non-alcoholic beverages is increasing, all of which have affected beer sales. According to Deutsche Welle, the production of non-alcoholic beer has more than doubled in the past 10 years. (Translated by Liu Lifei)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7529826000033694248/

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