Booze News: Non-Alcoholic Beer Gains in Popularity as State Pours Cash into Hard Liquor Production

Two bits of interesting domestic booze news from last week. First, market research ACNielsen reported on Friday that a drop in prices for non-alcoholic beer has led to a relative surge in purchases of alkoholmentes sör by Hungarians. Consumption of the non-wicked stuff grew 5% between May of last year and this April, well ahead of the overall 10% slump in beer sales last year. But don’t be too concerned that Hungary may become a dry country. That same day, Agriculture Minister József Graf announced that the Hungarian state will grant Ft 3.2 billion (€11.4 million) in development grants to 32 different domestic pálinka distillers.

It is the first time that makers of the often-fiery fruit brandy have gotten such subsidies, and comes on the heels of a Ft 100 million grant the government made last year for a PR campaign aimed at “raising the profile” of pálinka among Hungarians. Assuming the awareness campaign worked, we might suggest they follow it up with another one to help remind us to drink some water or non-alcoholic beer before sleeping off our next pálinka bender. [Picture of the "worst pálinka EVER" via Flick user Flóra]