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Drinks sales in the UK’s managed venues have dropped 5% for the week ended 14 September 2024, far less than the 12% decrease seen the week before.
Trading was negative on all seven days of the week, though Saturday fared slightly better than the rest with a decrease of just 2%.
Widespread cool and grey weather kept consumers away from pub gardens and terraces after a warmer spell in late August.
For the second week in a row, wine was the best performing category, with sales fractionally up by 0.1%.
Beer, down 2%, had a fair week, however cider, down 11%, soft drinks, down 8%, and spirits, down 14%, all suffered in comparison with September 2023.
Rachel Weller, CGA by NIQ’s commercial leader UK and Ireland, said: “Despite a week-on-week improvement, drinks sales are still short of what operators and suppliers might expect in September.
“Cooler weather isn’t helping, and we may also be seeing a readjustment of some consumers’ spending after their summer holidays. While inflation, household expenses and interest rates are generally moving in the right downward direction, it takes time before that translates into freer spending in pubs, bars and restaurants.”
