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22-08-2016, 08:45
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Despite an increase in the strength of beer in 1950, beer sales in Hull were down.
Breweries had an explanation: money was tight and drinkers used what little money they had on cigarettes rather than beer.
“BEER SALES DOWN:
LACK OF MONEY
BREWERY SPOKESMEN in Hull today confirmed that beer sales are down in the city as well as in the country, and they all gave one reason —lack of money.
Current slump in Hull's fishing industry has had the biggest effect on Hull ale consumption. Home from sea the typical trawlerman spent a good slice of his big earnings on beer. Now the money has gone and the beer, though 10 per cent, stronger, stays unsold.
Sales of wines, spirits, and bottled beer are also down.
CIGARETTES FIRST
"I'm a non-smoker myself." said one brewery chief. " I've no prejudice against smoking, but if 1/- was taken off the price of a packet of cigarettes, our sales would go up. Most people insist on putting their fags first. Even if we could double the gravity of beer, they would still make cigarettes No. 1 and ale No. 2."
Another expert said. "Shortage of money has brought a four per cent decrease in beer sales, but the confirmed drinkers are still spending to the limit of their spare cash."
CLUBS DO WELL
A third said. Some clubs in Hull are doing very well on beer sales, but public-houses in the fish dock area are having a thin time." Even so, brewers are having to order more hops this year, because of the increased gravity, which is appreciated by the seasoned drinker and which sometimes puts the unseasoned under the table, or into court.”
Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 08 August 1950, page 3.
You may not remember this, but the average gravity of beer only went up by 2º, or by about 0.2% ABV. Not really enough difference to put the unwary under the table or in hospital.
I can think of a good reason why people would choose fags first – they’re addicted to nicotine. Unless you’re a raging alcy, giving up beer would be way easier than going cold turkey on ciggies.
“spending to the limit of their spare cash" sounds very much like me in my younger days with regard to buying beer. A perfectly logical approach, if you ask me.
I’ll end with some figures that show it wasn’t just in Hull that beer consumption was falling. It was a national trend.
UK beer production, consumption, average OG and tax 1947 - 1952
UK
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
Production
29,261,398
30,408,634
26,990,144
26,513,997
24,891,746
25,156,489
Consumption
30,011,879
31,067,391
27,611,545
27,311,390
25,597,793
25,850,381
Exports
109,680
205,098
254,147
221,210
275,433
267,390
Imports
860,161
863,855
875,548
1,018,603
981,480
961,282
Production Irish Republic
1,952,583
1,988,580
2,119,583
2,304,668
2,279,655
2,339,224
Duty per standard barrel
286s 5.5d
325s 5d
364s 4.5d
343s 4.5d
321s
321s
Average OG
1032.59
1032.66
1033.43
1033.88
1036.99
1037.07
Sources:
Brewers' Almanack 1955, p. 57
Brewers' Almanack 1955, p. 50
Brewers' Almanack 1955, p.107-110
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Despite an increase in the strength of beer in 1950, beer sales in Hull were down.
Breweries had an explanation: money was tight and drinkers used what little money they had on cigarettes rather than beer.
“BEER SALES DOWN:
LACK OF MONEY
BREWERY SPOKESMEN in Hull today confirmed that beer sales are down in the city as well as in the country, and they all gave one reason —lack of money.
Current slump in Hull's fishing industry has had the biggest effect on Hull ale consumption. Home from sea the typical trawlerman spent a good slice of his big earnings on beer. Now the money has gone and the beer, though 10 per cent, stronger, stays unsold.
Sales of wines, spirits, and bottled beer are also down.
CIGARETTES FIRST
"I'm a non-smoker myself." said one brewery chief. " I've no prejudice against smoking, but if 1/- was taken off the price of a packet of cigarettes, our sales would go up. Most people insist on putting their fags first. Even if we could double the gravity of beer, they would still make cigarettes No. 1 and ale No. 2."
Another expert said. "Shortage of money has brought a four per cent decrease in beer sales, but the confirmed drinkers are still spending to the limit of their spare cash."
CLUBS DO WELL
A third said. Some clubs in Hull are doing very well on beer sales, but public-houses in the fish dock area are having a thin time." Even so, brewers are having to order more hops this year, because of the increased gravity, which is appreciated by the seasoned drinker and which sometimes puts the unseasoned under the table, or into court.”
Hull Daily Mail - Tuesday 08 August 1950, page 3.
You may not remember this, but the average gravity of beer only went up by 2º, or by about 0.2% ABV. Not really enough difference to put the unwary under the table or in hospital.
I can think of a good reason why people would choose fags first – they’re addicted to nicotine. Unless you’re a raging alcy, giving up beer would be way easier than going cold turkey on ciggies.
“spending to the limit of their spare cash" sounds very much like me in my younger days with regard to buying beer. A perfectly logical approach, if you ask me.
I’ll end with some figures that show it wasn’t just in Hull that beer consumption was falling. It was a national trend.
UK beer production, consumption, average OG and tax 1947 - 1952
UK
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
Production
29,261,398
30,408,634
26,990,144
26,513,997
24,891,746
25,156,489
Consumption
30,011,879
31,067,391
27,611,545
27,311,390
25,597,793
25,850,381
Exports
109,680
205,098
254,147
221,210
275,433
267,390
Imports
860,161
863,855
875,548
1,018,603
981,480
961,282
Production Irish Republic
1,952,583
1,988,580
2,119,583
2,304,668
2,279,655
2,339,224
Duty per standard barrel
286s 5.5d
325s 5d
364s 4.5d
343s 4.5d
321s
321s
Average OG
1032.59
1032.66
1033.43
1033.88
1036.99
1037.07
Sources:
Brewers' Almanack 1955, p. 57
Brewers' Almanack 1955, p. 50
Brewers' Almanack 1955, p.107-110
More... (http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2016/08/hull-prefers-fags-to-stronger-beer.html)