Beer sales in the Netherlands are down 5% in the first six months of this year when compared with 2023, Dutch brewing association Nederlandse Brouwers has told news website Nu.nl.

Supermarket sales were down 6.6% while cafes and bars reported a downturn in sales of 1.9%. “These are hefty declines across all sectors,” a spokesman said.

Alcohol-free beer, which had been showing steady growth, took the biggest hit, with a drop of almost 10%.

The brewers blame tax increases in the Netherlands, which they say have prompted people in border areas to buy their beer in Belgium and Germany. The government has pledged to monitor the impact of alcohol taxes on the domestic industry.

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Poor weather has not helped either, and the spokesman said brewers are hoping that the rest of the summer will be better. “We’re hoping more people head for a café terrace for a beer or pick up one by the barbecue,” he said.