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Decline in Beer Consumption in Germany: Non-Alcoholic Varieties On The Rise

Beer consumption in Germany is set to decline further in 2024, continuing a long-term downward trend in the country renowned for its beer culture, according to the German Brewers Association, as reported by DPA.

Key Facts:

  • Final sales figures for 2024 are anticipated to be weaker than 2023, which saw the lowest beer sales volume in decades, with only 8.4 billion liters sold.
  • In November 2024, beer consumption fell by 2.1% compared to the same period the previous year, though December’s data has not yet been gathered.
  • Christian Weber, President of the Brewers Association, pointed to factors such as bad weather, inflation, and fluctuations in consumer spending as contributing to the decline in beer sales.

What To Follow 

Amid this decline, many of the approximately 1,500 breweries in Germany are pinning their hopes on non-alcoholic beer varieties to counteract the drop in traditional beer sales.

In 2023, Germans consumed approximately 670 million liters of non-alcoholic beer, with this category accounting for 8.9% of the total beer market by the end of 2024, according to Nielsen data cited by the Brewers Association. Non-alcoholic beer has thus become the third most popular beer type in Germany, after pilsner and lager (helles). This shift toward non-alcoholic options is partly driven by a broader trend toward healthier lifestyles.

The aging population is another contributing factor, with fewer people consuming beer overall, further impacting per capita beer consumption.

Cyprus’ Strong Youth Employment Rate Still Does Not Guarantee Early Independence

Young people in Cyprus have a relatively high employment rate, but they leave the parental home later than the EU average, according to Eurostat data.

Cypriots left home at an average age of 27 in 2025, compared with 26.3 years across the EU. At the same time, 72.3% of people aged 20 to 29 in Cyprus were employed, well above the EU average of 65.5%.

Strong Employment Does Not Mean Early Independence

Only nine countries recorded higher youth employment rates than Cyprus. Iceland led at 85.3%, followed by the Netherlands at 84%, Malta at 82.1%, Switzerland at 78.3% and Germany at 77%.

Norway recorded 76.5%, Ireland 76.1%, Denmark 74.8% and Austria 74.6%. Eurostat said countries where young people leave home earlier generally tend to have higher youth employment rates.

Southern Europe Sees Later Moves

Finland had the lowest average age for leaving the parental home at 21.4 years, followed by Denmark at 21.8 and Estonia and Lithuania at 22.7. Croatia recorded the highest average at 31.5 years, followed by Greece and Slovakia at 30.9. Spain and Italy both stood at 30.2 years.

Across the EU, the average has remained close to 26 since 2002, rising only slightly from 26.2 years in 2024 to 26.3 years in 2025.

Cyprus Labour Market Is Cooling

The figures come as Cyprus’ labor market shows some signs of easing, although demand for workers remains relatively strong by European standards.

Separate Eurostat data showed Cyprus had the EU’s largest annual decline in its job vacancy rate in the second quarter of 2026. The rate fell to 2.6% from 3.3% a year earlier, but remained above the EU average of 2.0% and the euro area average of 2.1%.

Cost Of Living Remains A Factor

Housing and other living costs can also affect how quickly young workers establish independent households. Eurostat reported that Cyprus’ household consumption price level was 89.2% of the EU average in 2025.

A relatively lower overall price level does not eliminate affordability pressures for people on modest incomes. For younger workers, the issue can be whether wages are sufficient to cover rent, utilities, food and other basic expenses.

Cyprus therefore combines relatively high youth employment with a later transition to independent living, suggesting that access to work and the ability to afford a separate household do not always move together.

Uol
Aretilaw firm
eCredo
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