BRITS GUZZLE MOST BOOZE
Boozing in Britain is continuing to grow while Europe is getting drier, reveal new figures.
Some 88% of Britons bought alcohol in 2004, up from 83% in 1999 and taking total sales through the eight-billion-litre barrier.
In contrast, the amount of beers, wines and spirits bought in France and Germany fell over the same period, said market research firm Mintel.
The proportion of French people who bought alcohol last year was 86%, with their total consumption falling by 6% to under six billion litres.
In Germany the proportion was 70% and the overall consumption of the European Union's largest country fell to below 12 billion litres.
Britain's alcohol market has enjoyed the biggest rise in value, according to the Mintel study, with sales estimated at £38bn last year - up 15% since 1999.
French spending on alcohol increased by 7% to £28.5bn in the same, even though volume sales were down.
In Germany, the alcohol market shrunk by almost 4% to £32bn.
Throughout all three countries, said Mintel, men were the biggest drinkers.
Boozing in Britain is continuing to grow while Europe is getting drier, reveal new figures.
Some 88% of Britons bought alcohol in 2004, up from 83% in 1999 and taking total sales through the eight-billion-litre barrier.
In contrast, the amount of beers, wines and spirits bought in France and Germany fell over the same period, said market research firm Mintel.
The proportion of French people who bought alcohol last year was 86%, with their total consumption falling by 6% to under six billion litres.
In Germany the proportion was 70% and the overall consumption of the European Union's largest country fell to below 12 billion litres.
Britain's alcohol market has enjoyed the biggest rise in value, according to the Mintel study, with sales estimated at £38bn last year - up 15% since 1999.
French spending on alcohol increased by 7% to £28.5bn in the same, even though volume sales were down.
In Germany, the alcohol market shrunk by almost 4% to £32bn.
Throughout all three countries, said Mintel, men were the biggest drinkers.
But i do hope they didn't measure Europe by France and Germany alone?
