Alcohol-free beer lifts Spain’s brewing market as European demand declines

Spain moves against Europe’s beer downturn

Spain’s beer market remained above its pre-pandemic level in 2025, supported by a growing alcohol-free segment and a larger resident population. The country produced 41.5 million hectolitres during the year, according to que.es, citing the latest annual review from Brewers of Europe. That was 0.5% more than in 2024 and 5% above the 2019 level.

Domestic consumption reached 43.4 million hectolitres in 2025. Although that represented a 0.5% decline from the previous year, it was Spain’s second-highest result since before the pandemic. The figures place the country among a small group of European markets where total beer consumption remains higher than in 2019.

The wider European industry is moving in the opposite direction. Beer consumption in the European Union fell 3.2% between 2024 and 2025 and was 9.2% below 2019. Production declined 2.9% year on year and stood 8.6% below its pre-pandemic level. Brewers of Europe described the operating environment as complex.

Alcohol-free products take a 14% share

Alcohol-free beer has become a central source of growth for Spanish brewers. Sales in the category increased 4.6% in 2025 and accounted for 14% of all beer sold in the country. That is equivalent to roughly one in every seven beers consumed in Spain.

Spain is Europe’s largest market and producer of alcohol-free beer, according to que.es. The publication reports that one in four alcohol-free beers ordered in the European Union is consumed in Spain. The category has moved beyond a specialist product, gaining dedicated taps in bars and a prominent place in brewers’ summer marketing.

The trend is also visible across the EU, although alcohol-free beer has a smaller market share elsewhere. Sales increased 5.87% between 2024 and 2025 and 38.3% from 2020. Alcohol-free products now represent 8.2% of the EU beer market, making the segment one of the industry’s most dynamic areas as demand for conventional beer contracts.

Population growth supports total demand

Spain’s headline consumption figures partly reflect demographic growth rather than higher individual demand. The resident population cited by que.es increased 5.7% from 2019 to 40.5 million, driven by migration. Tourism and the country’s large hospitality industry also support sales through bars and restaurants.

Per-capita consumption was 51 litres in 2025, well below the 58 litres recorded in 2022. Total volumes have therefore remained resilient while consumption per resident has weakened. Outside Spain, only Malta, Portugal and Sweden were reported to have consumed more beer than in 2019.

For brewers, the figures point to a change in product mix rather than a broad recovery in drinking volumes. Spain’s production growth gives suppliers and processors a firmer domestic base than in much of Europe, but conventional beer still faces softer per-capita demand. Continued expansion will depend increasingly on alcohol-free launches, availability in hospitality venues and the industry’s ability to retain consumers who are reducing alcohol intake without leaving the beer category.