Beer consumption is on the rise
People should drink beer for good health, says Saho Denchev, who is an owner of a grocery shop in Sofia. That’s why when someone raises his glass, all others reply - “Nazdrave” or “Be healthy in Bulgarian”. You will not hear anyone tell you Nazdrave when you drink a medicine bought from the pharmacy. That is why people should drink beer without any worries, continues Denchev.
Beer is healthy, says Blagoy Dimitrov, a salesman from a small district shop. Besides, the price of beer and water in the town is similar. That is why most people prefer beer to water. In fact water is for washing, further goes Dimitrov. This is one of the most popular dicta for the Bulgarian, for whom summer is the time when mainly beer should be drunk.
Last year each Bulgarian has consumed an average of 69 liters of beer. This has placed us on 17th position in the EU. According to data from the Brewers of Europe union, Czech Republic is at the top of the ranking, followed by Austria and Germany. Biggest consumption of beer in Bulgaria was marked in the coastal town of Burgas, followed by Sofia, Ruse, Montana and Pleven. Men are more conservative when it comes to taste, while women like to experiment and often try new flavours such as the recently advertised lemon beer.
For the first 5 months of 2012 some 1.84 million hectoliters of beer have been sold in this country. Statistics of the Bulgarian brewing companies shows that in the summer 16 % of all Bulgarians drink at least 1 beer a day. The crisis has contributed to a bigger consumption of beer at home and a lower consumption in the Pubs. “People usually buy plastic bottles of 2 litres before going home in the evening”, says Blagoy Dimitrov. This is typical not only for us, but for most of the EU member states.
Has the consumption of beer increased over the summer? According to experts from this sector it has gone up by more than 50%. Sasho Denchev goes even further saying that sales have gone up 2-3 times as compared to previous seasons.
I am not surprised that consumption has gone up. People are thirsty in this hot weather”,says Sasho Denchev. People who love beer drink on a daily basis, regardless of the season. People drink more in the summer though. Everyone who enjoys drinking beer does not change brands often.
The consumption of beer has gone up by 70-80%, especially now during the Olympic games in London, says Blagoy Dimitrov. Besides, people prefer ice-cold beer in this boiling heat.
How cold should be the beer?
Nice and cold beer from the fridge is the one which is kept at a temperature between 2 and 6 C, specifies Sasho Denchev.
Beer is good, when is cold and has a piece of lemon in it, says Blagoy Dimitrov. Now people can buy a variety of new kinds - lemon flavoured, grapefruit flavoured, etc. This is why because people prefer beer to other beverages.
The brewing companies rely on the new products on the market, introduced especially for the hot summer days. Along with beers with lemon and grapefruit flavor, people can cool down in the hot August days with beverages with an apple or pear flavour. The competition is severe and companies are looking for new products to attract consumers. Some 2400 people work in the brewing industry in Bulgaria. The sector includes 11 beer factories.
On the occasion of the International Beer day, marked on August 5th, experts said that 2 glasses of beer a day are good for human health. A popular Bulgarian anecdote says that 3 litres of beer a day substitute our lunch, 4 litres substitute our company and 5 liters a day substitute the woman.
Text: Kostadin Atanasov, bnr.bg
(09.08.2012)