Market paradox: we drink more beer than water

Romanians drink 60 litres of mineral water and 93 litres of beer per capita annually, according to the statistical data provided by the National Mineral Water Company (SNAM) and Romania's Brewers Association. One of the explanations may be the success of PET-bottled beer in rural areas, where people drink very little mineral water. "Romanians generally drink little bottled water. In rural areas there are big differences between sales of beer and those of mineral water per capita because people drink the water from wells," explains Marius Caluian, CEO of MEMRB market research firm. A Romanian last year spent on average 75 euros (almost 280 RON) on beer and around 14 euros (52 RON) on mineral water, according to ZF estimates. Romania is now among the top ten countries in Europe in terms of beer consumption per capita. Instead, we are still below the European average of mineral water consumption, put at between 70-100 litres per capita. From this reason, SNAM counts on rising mineral water consumption this year.