Belgians drink more bubbly

http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/de.redactie.english/news/1.287291

Mon 14/04/08 - Last year consumption of alcohol rose by nearly one
percentage point in Belgium. Beer consumption though is on the wane.

The biggest increase was recorded in sales of sparkling wines.

The figures come from the Belgian Wine and Distilled Beverages
Federation.
(Belga)

Beer sales fell by 1.25% last year.

It's the umpteenth year in a row that beer consumption has fallen.

Across Europe beer is losing ground, while wine is becoming more
popular.

Last year the average Belgian consumed 35 litres of claret and 6
million litres of white Bordeaux.

Alsace wines and Burgundies are the most popular white wines.

Sales of sparkling wines rose by 16%.

Information about liquor sales is patchier.

Whiskey seems to be holding its ground, while Dutch jenever gin and
vodka are becoming increasingly popular.