Data published by Kirin Holdings, one of Japan’s largest beverage groups, on January 10 show global beer consumption reached about 194 billion litres in 2024, up 0.5 per cent year on year. China alone accounted for more than one fifth of total global demand.
Despite its dominant position, beer consumption in China fell 3.7 per cent compared with the previous year. The United States ranked second with 22.3 billion litres, representing 11.5 per cent of the global market.
As in China, beer consumption in the United States declined slightly, reflecting a long-term trend towards moderating alcohol intake and switching to alternative beverages.
By contrast, several emerging economies recorded strong growth. India became the fastest-growing major market, with consumption rising 14.6 per cent, driven by higher incomes and increasing popularity of beer among younger consumers.
Mexico and Russia also stood out, with beer consumption increasing by 5.4 per cent and 9 per cent respectively.
Vietnam ranked eighth globally, level with South Africa, with beer consumption reaching 4.6 billion litres in 2024, accounting for 2.4 per cent of the global total. Compared with 2023, consumption in Vietnam rose by 0.6 per cent, indicating steady demand.
Although Vietnam does not rank among the world’s highest beer consumers on a per capita basis, it maintains a prominent position in the global beer market thanks to its large population and sizeable consumer base.
In practice, many foreign visitors to Vietnam have expressed fascination with the country’s pavement beer culture. Matthew Pike, a Canadian tourist, has shared observations drawn from his experiences of local drinking habits.
He noted that beer is a popular choice among Vietnamese people and is seen as a social activity, with drinking rarely done alone.
Pike observed that groups typically sit together around outdoor tables, sharing simple snacks such as roasted peanuts or snails while enjoying glasses of cold beer.