Market research
Bulgarians drink more spirits than any other European nationality, according to figures released this week. Data from the Bulgarian chamber of wine producers and vine growers shows that the country's citizens drink around 80m litres of spirits annually, ranking the nation first in terms of spirits consumption in Europe.
Over the past five years, consumption of high-alcohol content spirits has risen at the expense of wine consumption, which currently stands at around 36m litres a year. The Bulgarian wine market is expected to shrink further after Bulgaria joins the European Union in 2007.