Focus Areas

Economies

From seed to sip, beer is crafted and served locally, strengthening economies through a complex value chain.

At a Glance

As a local product, beer supports a robust value chain, generating jobs and revenue in communities around the world.

Brewers invest in local industries, from agriculture to hospitality, driving sustainable economic development.

The beer sector significantly contributes to the national economy of low and middle-income countries.

Go Deeper

Authored by Oxford Economics on behalf of the WBA, this study is the most comprehensive, global impact report examining the beer sector to date.

Read more >>
Oxford Economics Study
Oxford Economics Study
Learn how the beer sector supports economies through a robust supply chain.

Download fact sheet >>
Fact Sheet: Strong Economies
Fact Sheet: Strong Economies
Taxation based on alcohol strength can nudge consumers towards lower-strength products and help reduce the harmful use of alcohol.

Download fact sheet >>
Fact Sheet: Differentiated Excise Taxation
Fact Sheet: Differentiated Excise Taxation
The beer industry supports 33 million jobs globally, contributed $878 billion to global GDP, and paid $373 billion in taxes.

Read more >>
Beer significantly contributes to the global economy through jobs, GDP, and tax revenue
Beer significantly contributes to the global economy through jobs, GDP, and tax revenue
The economic impact of beer extends far beyond the brewing process: the beer sector’s downstream value chain is connected to $499 billion in GDP, 21 million jobs, and $126 billion in tax revenues.

Read more >>
Beer supports a robust value chain
Beer supports a robust value chain
86% of the value chain revenue for beer stays in local markets. Brewers spent $131 billion buying goods and services from small, medium, and large businesses across the globe.

Read more >>
Brewing is a local business with global impact.
Brewing is a local business with global impact.
In low- and lower-middle-income countries, beer’s economic impact to the national GDP was nearly double that of the global average at 1.5% (vs. 0.8). Notably, in Cambodia, the sector’s share of national GDP reached an impressive 5.8%.

Read more >>
The beer sector has an outsized impact on developing economies.
The beer sector has an outsized impact on developing economies.
The alcohol in beer is the most expensive alcohol to bring to market. Per liter of pure alcohol, beer production costs 2.5x that of liquor, and distribution of beer costs 8x that of liquor.

Read more >>
Beer is expensive to produce and distribute
Beer is expensive to produce and distribute
More

What they’re saying

The beer sector is strongly tied to overall EU prosperity."

-Renate Sommer, former MEP

Throughout history - from ancient Mesopotamia to today's craft beer explosion - the production and consumption of beer have played a pivotal role in economics and politics on a local, national, and even global scale."

-"Beeronomics" by Johan Swinnen and Devin Briski

"We call (fonio) a small grain with big impact...This small-but-mighty grain is a metaphor for the power of fonio potentially. We’re building a supply chain that empowers people.”

-Alan Mahon, executive chair of Brewgooder

Oxford
Economics Study

Authored by Oxford Economics on behalf of the WBA, this study is the most comprehensive, global impact report examining the beer sector to date.

Learn More