Christmas hangover hits as drinks sales drop 7%

Average sales in managed venues dropped 7% in the week ended 13 January compared with the same week in 2022.

After a strong Christmas and a solid first week of 2024, many people will have sought to save some money by staying in.

Cold weather and ‘Dry January’ may have further reduced footfall in pubs and bars.

While sales on Sunday 7 January grew by 7% year-on-year, they were down on each of the six other days of the week.

There were particularly steep drops on 4 January, down 10%, 5 January, down 11% and 6 January, down 9%.

There were drops in sales for all main drinks categories, including beer, down 3%, cider, down 0.3%, wine down 4% and soft drinks down 6%).

Spirits, the category that is most exposed to consumers’ reining in their spending after the festive period, saw sales tumble 22% year-on-year.

Jonathan Jones, CGA by NIQ’s managing director, UK and Ireland, said: “It was a good Christmas and New Year for many pubs, bars and suppliers, but the hangover has now kicked in.

“This week’s wintry weather has made for tougher conditions, but the big question now is whether this is a short blip as consumers regain their spending confidence, or a sign of challenges to come in 2024.”