Drinks sales down 12% in the week to 15 January

While this was still short of pre-coronavirus trading, it was an improvement on the 18% shortfall in the first full week of January, and the 25% drop in the last three weeks of 2021.

However, drinks sales in Scotland and Wales, where restrictions were tighter, the week to Saturday 15 January were down 28% and 24% respectively, and across Britain, the drop in sales was between 8% and 15% every day during that week.

Better things to come ​

CGA managing director UK and Ireland Jonathan Jones said: “After an immensely challenging Christmas it will be a long road back for many drinking-out businesses, but these figures are a very welcome sign there are better times to come.”

Also shown in the most recent tracker, was a 1% increase in the sales of spirits when compared with the same week in 2020, though beer and cider were down 13%, wine decreased by more than a fifth (22%) and soft drinks sales dropped by 16%.

This comes after the previous CGA Tracker indicated the first few days of 2022 saw strong figures across the bank holiday, with overall sales up 25% and 37% on 2020’s levels during Sunday 2 and Monday 3 January. However, sales were down by between 23% and 32% for every other day during that week.

Worst is hopefully behind us​

With Covid infection rates falling and restrictions due to be eased in England, Scotland, and Wales from this week, including vaccine passes and working-from-home guidance, there has been cautious confidence sales will continue to pick up as 2022 goes on.

Jones added: “Consumer confidence has grown since the start of the year, and the loosening of constraints should give operators and suppliers another lift, in late-night and after-work drinking occasions in particular.

“The sector still faces major pressures, but the worst impacts of the pandemic may hopefully now be behind us.”