Pub bosses hoping World Cup would help rescue falling beer sales

Pubs bosses are reportedly desperate that the World Cup would come to their rescue by helping their beer sales go up after it had been revealed that the beer sales have been in freefall.

Industry insiders have reportedly blamed the winter washout for 2014's first quarter drop of 4.2 percent compared to the same period last year because of the record rainfall that put Brits off nipping out for a pint.

Landlords are now hoping that the FIFA World Cup in Brazil will provide them with a boost to their beer sale, the Daily Star reported.

British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds said that extra opening hours for late-night games might help along with a cut in beer duty, which might also came into effect in April, and could be reflected in better sales for the rest of this year following a slight surge over Easter.

Simmonds said that the outlook is certainly more positive with the Easter sales, an expected World Cup uplift and the further boost from a cut in beer duty from the Chancellor.

The latest figures suggest that it is the 12th year in a row for the rapid drop in lager and bitter sales, with the amount of barrels sold in the first three months standing at just 5.5million, compared with 6.9 million 14 years ago, the report added.