The sales of canned beer in Austria fell by 19 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year, according to figures from the Association of Austrian Breweries. Overall production by domestic brewers declined by almost seven percent in the same period, to 390 million liters. Sales of non-alcoholic beer, however, rose by more than 6 percent.
This increase lifted the share of non-alcoholic beer in total sales to 3.8 percent. The sharp decline—especially for cans—was also attributed to stockpiling effects caused by the deposit system introduced at the beginning of the year, explained the association’s managing director, Florian Berger, in statements to Kleine Zeitung and the Ö1 “Mittagsjournal.”
Since January, cans have been subject to a deposit for the first time—like other single-use containers, at 25 cents. The deposit on beer bottles rose from 9 to 20 cents. In Germany, a similar decline was observed after the system was introduced, but sales later recovered. Berger also cited a rainy May and changing consumption habits among younger people as additional reasons for the drop in sales.
Beer in glass bottles accounted for just over 60 percent of sales in the first half of the year. Cans made up 22 percent, while draft beer in the hospitality sector accounted for almost 18 percent.
