Beer output in Austria rose by 1.5% in 2002 to 830 million litres, the Austrian Union of Breweries reported in a statement. Beer consumption per capita increased to 109 litres in 2002 versus 107 litres in 2001, according to Johann Sulzberger, the chairman of the Union. The country's leading brewer, Brau-Beteiligungs-AG (BBAG), produced about 480 million litres in 2002, which constitutes 57% of the Austria's total output. The introduction of road tolling in Austria, planned for 2004, would increase beer production costs by 20-25%, the Union said.

15 April, 2003