(TDB) - Sales of beer rose for two consecutive quarters for the first time in 10 years last year, despite a drop in pub beer sales of 2.2%.

According to figures released by the British Beer and Pub Association, sales of beer rose by 0.8% in the last quarter of 2013, the equivalent of 15.3 million extra pints on the same period in 2012, while off-trade beer sales rose by 3.9%.

However there was a drop in pub beer sales of 2.2%.

The increase in sales follows the Chancellor’s cut in Beer Duty in last year’s Budget and strengthens calls for a duty freeze in the March Budget.

Brigid Simmonds OBE, and chief executive of the BBPA, said: “These figures demonstrate that cutting beer duty helps increase beer sales, stimulates industry investment and saves jobs.’

“We hope the Chancellor takes note and freezes beer duty in his next Budget to give a further boost to British beer and pubs.”