Wed 27th Jul 2016 - BBPA – buoyant British beer like-for-like sales up 31 million pints in second quarter BBPA – buoyant British beer like-for-like sales up 31 million pints in second quarter: Buoyant British beer sales in the second quarter highlight further signs of reversing a long period of decline, with like-for-like sales up 1.5%, according to the latest figures from the British Beer & Pub Association’s (BBPA) quarterly Beer Barometer. The rise means Britons enjoyed 31 million extra pints from April to June, compared with the same period in 2015. Off-trade sales during the Euro 2016 tournament were a big source of the boost, with sales rising by 4.8%. On-trade sales fared less well, slipping by 1.9%, although this was one of the lowest second-quarter drops for the on-trade in recent years. Beer sales have risen by 1.2% during the past year, and have been relatively stable since early 2013 following years of decline. The marked change in trend coincides with reductions in beer duty, which began with a pioneering 1p cut in the March 2013 Budget. This was followed by two further 1p cuts and a freeze this year, putting an end to years of steep beer tax hikes. Increased confidence in the sector has been accompanied by greater investment and campaigns such as There’s a Beer for That, in which Britain’s Beer Alliance promotes the beer category as a whole, with widespread backing throughout the industry. BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “These are yet more encouraging figures, and the football has given a real boost to sales. It is quite clear we owe a huge debt of thanks to the cuts in beer duty from 2013. I hope the government continues with this pioneering change in approach, and we continue to see support for fairer taxes for British beer.” There’s A Beer For That programme director David Cunningham added: “We can see the campaign messages of quality, diversity and versatility of beer and our focus on encouraging people to pair different styles of beer with their meals is beginning to have a positive impact. This, in turn, is playing a part in the recovery of the category.”