(TDB) - The UK drinks market is seeing a fall-off in still wine consumption – and it’s predicted to worsen – although the main area of decline is the lower end of the market, according to the IWSR.

Using data gathered from all areas of the UK drinks market, figures from the IWSR released at a Vinexpo press briefing on Wednesday this week showed that still wine sales have fallen by 3 million nine-litre cases (see bar chart, above).

Such a decline was recorded over a 12-month period from 2016 to 2017, and the decrease comes in marked contrast to the global picture for still wine consumption over the same period, which has risen by almost 12m cases (see bar chart, bottom).

Considering that the UK still wine market is a little over 114 million cases, the decline in sales noted above represents a drop of almost 2%.

Commenting on the development at the event this week, Mark Meek, who is CEO of the drinks market analyst, said that it was the “lower end” of the still wine market that was seeing a decrease, and that this was not being replicated at the higher end of the market.