The association said consumption dropped because of falling numbers of regular beer drinkers in the 30 to 45 age bracket. In spite of its reputation for mammoth beer drinking, shaped by images of enormous steins being downed in massive beer halls, Germany in fact ranks third in Europe in terms of per capita beer consumption after the Czech Republic and Ireland.
GERMANY: Beer consumption down in 2001
The German Brewers' Association has reported that per capita beer consumption in Germany fell from 125.5 litres in 2000 to 123 litres in 2001.