This summer's World Cup helped beer sales grow by 2.9 per cent during the second quarter ending June 2010 - the first increase in quarterly like-for-like sales since the same period in 2006.

However, the British Beer and Pub Association's (BBPA) latest UK Quarterly Beer Barometer posted a 6.3 per cent decline in pub beer sales for the three-month period, compared with 2009. Pub sales did increase on the first quarter of 2010. Nearly 1.1 billion pints of beer were sold at UK pubs between April and June 2010, which compares favourably with the 923 million sold between January and March. Beer sales in supermarket and shops also increased.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "The World Cup has certainly been a benefit to Britain's beer sector and we can now hope that the market is starting to turn a corner. "However, while there is some reason for cheer, it has to be noted that beer sales in pubs are still falling and the nation's pubs need support. The government must carefully consider how best to use its Review of Alcohol Taxation to rebalance the tax system, freeze beer tax and support Britain's pubs."