Britain imports 15% less champagne during 2009 recession

The latest figures from the Champagne Bureau have shown that Britain imported 30.52 million bottles of champagne in 2009, down 15 per cent from the previous year.

Despite the fall the number of bottles was roughly comparable with the amount of demand in 2002. There were fears that imports could drop by as much as 40 per cent.

While imports fell, British people are still the world’s number one champagne drinkers. According to the Champagne Bureau the number Briton’s drinking champagne is equal to that of Belgium, Germany and the USA combined.

The Champagne Bureau said that shipments to the USA dropped by nearly 30 per cent, taking exports to their lowest levels for nearly 20 years. Germany’s imports of champagne were also at a near 20 year low.

Francoise Peretti, Director of the Champagne Bureau, said, ''The British have been drinking Champagne for 300 years and they won't give it up, even in a recession.

''These figures show the combination of the UK's international population who have brought their Champagne habit with them and the British love for it, helped along by the food revolution here.''

In February France said that its exports of champagne dropped 28 per cent to 1.6 billion euros in 2009.