Young Germans enjoy alcohol-free beer as lager sales fall flat

The Germans are increasingly drinking less beer, but non -alcoholic varieties are more popular than ever.

Germany’s Destatis Federal Statistics Office says that non -alcoholic sales have increased more than twice in recent years – 109% increase since 2013 – beer sales have been at the lowest level for more than 30 years.

For the first time, they fell below 4 billion liters in a half -year period.

German beer sales fell by 6.3% or 262 million liters in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

The Erdincer Beer Factory near Munich has been doing beer since the 1880s, and General Manager Stefan Kreisz says that his drinking habits have changed and about a quarter of his production is non -alcoholic.

“We have to find a way to make beer even if it is non -alcohol and attractive for young people.

“You need to understand that they meet and they are doing a party together. Now there is no algorithm who tells you that you need a beer.”

Stefan Kreisz still sees the culture of German beer as flexible, and today the company introduces the company’s non -alcoholic beer as a natural alternative to energy drinks.

Barman Louis von Tucker at Café Kosmos in Munich says that most of his customers are more aware of health.

“In the 2000s, if you said that people should have a glass of water, I remember that people are postponed … And they will be really uncomfortable.”

However, now he has detected a change.

“Everyone is a little more conscious about their consumption.

But Louis says that the full power is not going.

“This is a light shift,” he said, I think we sell 150 to 500 liters of normal beer at night, maybe 20 liters of non -alcoholic beer. So there’s still a big gap between these two. “

At the Sandkerwa People’s Festival in Bamberg town in North Bavaria, the tradition of drinking alcoholic beer in Germany looks alive and good.

During the five -day celebration, Bamberg’s bandage is full of medieval streets musicians, sausage stands and numerous beer stalls that make a roaring trade.

In Sandstrasse in the old city, Pascal was drinking a beer with a friend.

“The beer is very important for the city and we have a lot of beer factories here,” he said.

“People come here for beer and festival. I can’t imagine that beer consumption is really less than before in Bamberg.”

Standing out of a beer garden, Magdalena accepted a student.

“I look around and everyone has a glass of beer.

“Especially in my generation, people tend to drink less on a daily basis, but still Germany, still Bavaria.”