Why are Czechs drinking less and less beer?

The world record holder in beer consumption, the Czech Republic, is recording a record drop in consumption. Young people drink the least. While breweries are sounding the alarm, health experts see this as a positive development.

The Czech Republic, a country with around ten million inhabitants, has been known for decades as a "beer nation". Nowhere in the world does more beer per capita be drunk than there - the Czech Republic has been at the top of the world lists for years and only occasionally falls to second place. The tavern is traditionally the central place of social life: there, not only beer is poured, but also life, politics and the world are discussed. "Tavern conversations", recorded in the literary works of Jaroslav Hašek, Bohumil Hrabal, and today also the German-Czech writer Jaroslav Rudiš, are part of European and world literature.

Czech beer has been an integral part of the national identity for centuries. Even during the worst economic crisis of communism, Pilsner was exported all over the world. Even today, the Pope receives several blessed cases of Pilsner Urquell beer every Easter, although it is not known whether he actually drinks them. Budvar from České Budějovice, Pilsner's main competitor, is one of the few companies that remained state-owned after the fall of communism.

Breweries are sounding the alarm

For all this reason, news about beer prices, consumption, production and exports in the Czech Republic is followed with great interest. Thus, the recent announcement by the Czech Brewers' Association, according to which consumption last year fell to a historic low of 121 liters per capita, overshadowed even the news about the rise in fuel prices related to the war in Iran.

"Every Czech drank eight fewer large beers last year than in 2024," reported the local public service, which, like most other media outlets, gave the topic a central place in its reporting at the end of April.

"In recent years, Czechs have become more mindful of moderation and are adopting a healthier lifestyle more often," says Tomaš Slunečko, director of the Czech Brewers' Association. "And when they do go out for a beer, they are more interested in the variety of the offer and the quality than the quantity." He cites the long-term growth in interest in non-alcoholic beers as evidence. According to the association, beer is increasingly consumed outside of catering establishments.

Last year, only one in four beers sold in the Czech Republic were consumed in pubs and restaurants. The Brewers' Association is therefore asking the government to reduce VAT on draft beer to encourage consumption in the hospitality industry. The price of half a liter of draft beer has risen in recent years from 40 to 50 to 60 crowns, or from around 1,60 to 2 to 2,50 euros.

Consumption is also declining in export markets, such as Germany. Total beer production in the Czech Republic fell by 4,3 percent last year to 1,996 billion liters.

Alcohol as part of identity

While older generations often perceive the decline in beer consumption as a sign of the decline of tradition, Czech addiction experts and doctors see it as good news.

"Some Czechs still feel that beer is not alcohol, but part of their national identity," former deputy health minister and Christian Democratic Party MP Tom Filip told DW. He sees the drop in consumption from almost 160 liters per capita twenty years ago to 121 liters today as a positive trend.

"We are gradually moving away from the 'more is better' mentality, towards the view that it is normal to drink less or not at all - and that is good news from a health and safety perspective," adds Filip.

Young people in the Czech Republic drink less alcohol on average than older people, but consumption remains high and the risk of abuse remains. "Of particular concern is that alcohol among young people often serves as a substitute for the lack of counseling and support services," warns Katerina Duspivova, senior analyst at the prestigious Institute for Empirical Research STEM.

According to the 2024 European School Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs, 14 percent of 16-year-olds in the Czech Republic drink alcohol to forget their problems, while 11 percent said they reach for alcohol when they feel depressed.

Less alcohol, but new risks

Alcohol is much less "cool" for young Czechs today than it used to be. However, new forms of addiction are emerging.

"The National Center for Drug and Addiction Monitoring confirms a decline in alcohol consumption among young people, but at the same time, more frequent use of new, unregulated substances, as well as excessive use of social networks and internet games," warns Duspivova.

"Young people are spending more and more time in the virtual world, while real-life problems are piling up. We have a lot to catch up on in this area, and this is confirmed by data on the psychological well-being of certain generations," concludes Duspivova.