Czech alcohol consumption falls as non-alcoholic beer sales accelerate
Czech consumers are drinking less alcohol while non-alcoholic beer and ready-to-drink products gain ground. Rohlík reports non-alcoholic beer sales rising by more than 25%, while spirits producer Stock Plzeň-Božkov is investing millions in lower-alcohol formats amid higher excise duties.
Non-alcoholic beer approaches one-third of sales
Czech consumers are reducing their overall alcohol intake while shifting toward non-alcoholic beer, lower-alcohol products and ready-to-drink beverages. Retail data from online grocer Rohlík and comments from spirits producer Stock Plzeň-Božkov point to a market in which traditional categories remain large, but the fastest growth is coming from alternatives designed for lighter consumption occasions.
Rohlík said its non-alcoholic beer sales increased by more than 25% year on year. Together with flavored beers and radlers, the category is approaching one-third of all beer sold through the retailer. Birell, the main brand driving the segment, grew by almost 20%.
Conventional lagers and draft-style beers still account for more than half of Rohlík's beer sales and are growing by over 10%. Beer from small and regional breweries rose by more than 11%, while IPA- and APA-style craft beer was the only segment to decline. Domestic brands retain a dominant position, representing more than nine in every ten beers sold, although imported beer grew faster at 18% year on year.
National consumption declines across categories
The retailer's figures align with a broader decline in Czech alcohol consumption. According to Czech Statistical Office data cited by Plzeňský deník, consumption of alcoholic beverages fell by 4.3 liters to 156 liters per person in the referenced year. Beer consumption dropped by 2.7 liters to 130.5 liters per person, wine by 1.1 liters to 19.5 liters and spirits by 0.6 liters to 6.1 liters.
The trend is changing manufacturers' investment priorities. Stock Plzeň-Božkov chief executive Romana Jourdren told the Czech News Agency that consumers want a wider range of products, including lighter, refreshing and mixed drinks. Stock has invested millions in ready-to-drink and lower-alcohol production and has added new flavors to established products, including lime-flavored Fernet and Božkov Modrá.
Jourdren said the newer categories are already a significant part of Stock's business rather than supplementary products and expects them to continue growing. She also expects the company's traditional brands to retain a strong market position over the next ten years. Producers therefore face the task of expanding emerging formats without weakening the established products that still generate substantial sales.
Excise duty and regulation raise industry concerns
The shift in demand comes as Czech spirits taxation increases. The excise duty rose by 5% this year to 410.50 Czech korunas per liter of pure alcohol, following increases of 10% at the start of both 2024 and 2025. The Union of Spirits Producers and Importers said the alcohol tax rate rose by more than one-fifth between 2023 and 2025, while excise revenue from spirits fell by about 1.1% between 2024 and 2025.
The government has said it will focus on preventing alcohol use, while the Health Ministry has considered measures including a ban on nighttime alcohol sales at convenience stores or filling stations. Jourdren argued that further restrictions could encourage illegal alcohol sales, cross-border shopping or movement toward lower-quality products. For producers and retailers, the immediate commercial response is nevertheless clear: preserve core lager and spirits franchises while allocating more capacity, shelf space and product development to non-alcoholic, lower-alcohol and ready-to-drink options.
