UK pub sector to lose £80m-plus after England fails to qualify for Euro 2008

The UK pub sector will lose out on a minimum of £80m - £100m of extra income as a result of England failing to qualify for the 2008 European Championships, it was predicted today.

Using figures from Euro 2004 as a basis, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) estimated that an extra 20m-25m pints would have been served during the three group matches next summer, which correlates to £80m - £100m of incremental profit.

This would have increased further in the unlikely eventuality of Steve McClaren's team making out of the group stages.

But England's ignominious failure last night, allied to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland not qualifying, has wiped this out in one fell swoop.

The news follows hot on the heels of BBPA research which revealed that beer consumption has slumped by 49% since 1979.

Pubs could now face a miserable summer, "unless we all start supporting Germany," a BBPA spokeswoman said. "And that isn't going to happen!"

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By Daniel Thomas

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