British tourists visiting the Canary Islands are being encouraged to enjoy a beer in local bars as Spain’s brewing industry faces a sharp fall in consumption. Beer drinking outside the home has dropped by 16.1% since 2022, affecting bars, restaurants and breweries across the country.

The decline comes as people spend less on eating and drinking out. Spain’s 2025 Food Consumption Report recorded a 9.4% fall in drinks consumed outside the home between 2022 and 2025.

Beer consumption in bars and restaurants averaged 18.4 litres per person last year, compared with 19.9 litres in 2024.

The fall has been linked to reduced disposable income, changing leisure habits and a growing focus on health and wellbeing. More customers are also choosing low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks, leading breweries to expand their ranges.

However, the Spanish Brewers Association said the country’s overall beer market remained 2.7% above 2022 levels in 2025. This suggests supermarket and shop sales are helping to offset the decline in pubs, bars and restaurants.

The trend is particularly relevant in the Canary Islands, where hospitality businesses rely heavily on spending by tourists and residents. Bars and restaurants are a major part of the islands’ visitor economy and provide thousands of local jobs.

Similar changes are taking place in Britain, where low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks have become increasingly popular. Younger adults are among those most likely to reduce their alcohol intake or stop drinking altogether.