Britain's love affair with beer grows

Britons are a nation of beer lovers with almost half (48%) stating they love drinking beer with over two fifths (45%) preferring to drink beer to wine. The study by There's A Beer For That reveals that beer was voted the most 'traditionally British' drink (47.8%), beating other popular beverage choices such as Pimms and lemonade (12%) and gin and tonic (8%).  The drinks the nation viewed as most British included:

Top traditional British drinks

1 Beer (48%)

2 Pimms and lemonade (12%)

3 Cider (12%)

4 Gin and tonic (8%)

5 Whisky (5%)

The research, commissioned to celebrate Beer Day Britain on June 15th, found that almost nine out of ten of the adult population have tried a lager (86%) and others have been more adventurous in their choices and have tried beers including ales (68%), stout (61%) wheat beer (35%), pilsner (57%) and fruit beer (43%). 

Almost one in three Brits (32%) would prefer to get to know people over a beer, with 27% believing it to be a great facilitator of social bonding. In comparison to wine, spirit and cocktail drinkers, beer drinkers are perceived as the friendliest (29%) with those surveyed also considering beer drinkers to be fun (17%) and outgoing (11%) and not at all arrogant (98%). 

When it comes to dream drinking partners, comedian and writer Steven Fry (18%) won demonstrating Brits’ desire for both intellectual stimulation and good conversation as they enjoy a beer. Fry beat both male and female celebrities to the top spot pipping the likes of David Beckham (15%) and Cheryl Cole (11%) to the top spot. The Queen (13%) and Kate Middleton (10%) both proved a popular choice when it came to the royals but it was Prince Harry who won with 17% stating they would choose to share a pint with the fun loving royal. The nation's top celebrity dream drinking partners include:

Male Celebrities

1 Stephen Fry (18%)

2 Prince Harry (17%)

3 David Beckham (15%)

4 James Corden (13%)

5 Boris Johnson (12%)

Female Celebrities

1 Holly Willoughby (15%)

2 Emma Watson (15%)

3 The Queen (13%)

4 Cheryl Cole (11%)

5 Kate Middleton (10%)

The survey went on to reveal that drinking choices are often influenced by other people including family members (16%) and friends (22%). Furthermore, 44% of those surveyed believe that over the past five years the variety of beers available in the UK has increased, and 42% admit to varying their choice of beer style in relation to their current mood.

David Cunningham, programme director at There's A Beer For That, said: "It is great to see that beer is the nation's first choice when it comes to drinking alcohol and that people view beer, over all other alcoholic drinks, as the most traditionally British. The nation's knowledge of beer is starting to grow alongside their love of beer and people are beginning to consider beer for more occasions, demonstrating a real renaissance in beer. Come Monday the 15th it would be brilliant to see the nation getting behind the first ever Beer Day Britain, raising a glass and saying cheers in celebration of this first national beer day."

There's A Beer For That commissioned the research to celebrate Beer Day Britain, a national beer day which will take place on 15th June 2015. The day will celebrate the great historical associations with beer and Britain and encourage the nation to cheers to beer (using #cheersbdb on Twitter) and use tools such as There's A Beer For That's Beer Explorer, an interactive guide to the best beers in Britain, for beer inspriation.