Beer sales fall to lowest level since 1975

They have fallen below the five billion litre mark for the first time in 33 years, according to data from the British Beer and Pub Association.

Annual beer sales have now dropped below the 50m hectoliter mark, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: "This is a bell-weather of the economic situation where you have a perfect storm of the smoking ban, credit crisis and loss of consumer confidence."