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.

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

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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.

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Fact Sheet: Differentiated Excise Taxation
Fact Sheet: Differentiated Excise Taxation
The beer industry supports 23 million jobs globally, contributed $555 billion to global GDP, and paid $262 billion in taxes.


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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 $305 billion, 14 million jobs, and $88 billion in tax revenues.

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Beer supports a robust value chain
Beer supports a robust value chain
89% of the value chain revenue for beer stays in local markets. Brewers spent $118 billion buying goods and services from small, medium, and large businesses across the globe.

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Brewing is a local business with global impact.
Brewing is a local business with global impact.
In 2019 the beer sector contributed 1.6% to national GDP in low- and middle-income countries – double the global contribution of 0.8%. In some markets the impact is greater. In Cambodia the beer sector supported 4.3% of GDP, in Bolivia 2.8% and in Mozambique 2.7%. The beer sector provides 1.4% of employment in low- and middle-income countries compared to 1.1% in high income countries. In some countries the impact is even greater, for example in Indonesia there are 109 jobs in the downstream for every job in a brewery.


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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.

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Beer is expensive to produce and distribute
Beer is expensive to produce and distribute
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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