World Cup fans 'snubbed pub for BBQs'
The 2006 World Cup was a "barbecue World Cup" - not a pub-visiting tournament - thanks to cheap off-trade alcohol.
That is the view of S&NUK managing director John Dunsmore - and his stance is backed by new figures from ACNielsen.
He said: "It was a barbecue World Cup rather than a pub-visiting one. Very fierce off-trade pricing may have choked some demand at pubs.
"There's definitely a feeling that England's performance was so depressing that it de-energised people and held back sales in pubs."
ACNielsen data shows year-on-year on-trade volumes for the week to 17 June - the first week of the tournament - were down 2%.
Off-trade volumes were up 4% for the same period.
ACNielsen consultant Graham Page said some on-trade outlets - particularly venues with big TV screens - performed well.
But he added: "I think customers are voting with their wallets because they can buy very cheap booze at supermarkets."
The figures show that lager performed relatively well during the period. Volumes were down 1%, compared to a 3% fall for beer overall.
"That's a combination of the main brands' strength, popularity of extra-cold and the fact that standard lagers deliver for the customer at 4.1% abv, compared to years ago when they were 3.1% or 3.2%," said Page.
The wine market is healthier in the on-trade, with volumes up 5%, than the off-trade, which is up 1%, thanks to pubs' use of larger glasses and the growth of pub food.
Most spirits declined because people chose long drinks in hot weather, Page said.
Vodka sales were static for the first time in years.
