On-trade drinks sales have fallen year on year for three weeks as consumers sweltered in uncomfortably high temperatures, NIQ’s latest Daily Drinks Tracker shows.
Average sales in managed venues in the week to Saturday, 1st August, dropped by 2.1% from the same week in 2025, and by 0.9% in the next seven days to 8th August. It follows a 1.6% dip over the last full week in July.
While pubs and bars usually fill up during warm weather, recent heatwaves have been too much for some people to venture out. The modest drops in sales may also reflect reduced footfall after a period of sustained growth during the football World Cup.
The Tracker, powered by CGA intelligence, reveals a much better fortnight for cider than any other major category. Cider sales rose year on year by 5.2% and 6.9% respectively over the two weeks to 1st and 8th August.
Some of these sales came at the expense of other segments, including beer, where sales fell by 3.2% and 2%. Hardest hit of all were the spirits and wine categories, which both recorded double-digit declines over the fortnight. Wine sales (down 10.9% and 10.5%) struggled as many consumers chose drink-led rather than food-led occasions in the heat. Spirits (down 16% and 14.5%) recorded their toughest fortnight for some time as drinkers turned to longer serves.
While the latest two-week trading period was negative, the Daily Drinks Tracker showed there were bursts of growth when the weather was conducive to drinking out. They included Tuesday, 28th July, when sales jumped 11.7% year on year, and Monday, 3rd August, when Scotland’s bank holiday contributed to a 14.6% increase.
“After a successful World Cup for pubs, bars, and suppliers, it’s not surprising to see a hangover in sales in late July and early August,” said Rachel Weller, NIQ’s commercial lead, UK and Ireland. “Some of the football fans who spent freely during England’s long run through the tournament are now retrenching their spending.
“Meanwhile, the dry and hot weather has been something of a double-edged sword for the on-premise, bringing many consumers out on comfortably warm days, but keeping others away when the temperatures get too much.
“With another heatwave now here and signs of increased staycations this year, operators and suppliers will be hoping to secure holiday spending over the second half of August.”
