| Britons' penchant for wine is growing at a fast pace. Within three years they will be spending nearly US $9.9 billion a year on their favourite drink, more than any other country in Europe, according to a report by The Age, Australia, quoting the Reuter.
Between 2001 and 2005, wine sales rose 25 per cent to US 9.5 billion a year and the trend is for further growth, forecasts from drink researchers International Wine and Spirits Report, IWSR indicate.
British market is set to be worth more than the French, German or Italian markets by 2010. It is explained both by increases in the amount of wine bought and the higher average price of a bottle of wine at US $ 6.0.
In three years' time, annual wine consumption in Britain will reach 28.5 litres per adult, about 38 bottles a year, the researchers predict. Last year, British drinkers polished off 1.7 billion bottles of wine, 53 per cent of it red. Rose showed rapid growth of 63 per cent between 2001-2005 and is set to grow by a further 25 per cent by 2010.
Scotch Whisky is still the top seller in spirits but not for much longer. Recent decline of Scotch - down 6.7 per cent over the last four years - is set to continue and other hard drinks like Vodka are expected to overtake it by 2010.
Full report at http://www.theage.com.au |
