Consulting Report
04 Feb 2025

Beer’s Global Economic Footprint

Commissioned by World Brewing Alliance

This study measures the global economic footprint of the beer sector in 2023.

The beer sector is truly global, and its impact reaches far beyond brewers. A range of firms are responsible for brewing, marketing, distributing, and selling beer to millions of adults of drinking age across the world. In carrying out these activities, businesses stimulate a significant economic footprint across the global economy.

This study, commissioned by the World Brewing Alliance, assesses the global economic footprint of the beer industry in 2023. By using the Oxford Economics Global Sustainability Model, we were able to trace the complex linkages of how brewers, distributors, vendors, and all the other firms in beer’s global value chain interact. This update to Oxford Economics’ previous study, published in 2022, now provides a first-of-its-kind estimate of the global footprint of the beer sector, covering 100% of the global economy.

Our analysis reveals the global beer sector supported a total contribution of $878 billion to global GDP in 2023, along with a total of 33 million jobs. In turn, this activity supported $376 billion in global tax revenues.

This report was brought to you by the ECONOMIC IMPACT team.
Quantifying the economic, social, and environmental impact of government policies, new investments, technological innovations, industries, and companies at a global, national, or local level.
The experts behind the research
  • Stephen Foreman

    Stephen Foreman

    Associate Director, Economic Footprint & Sustainability
    Stephen Foreman

    Associate Director, Economic Footprint & Sustainability

    Stephen leads a team of economists who assess the economic and social footprint of a variety of different investments, companies, and industries at the global, national and local level. He has led engagements for corporations, financial institutions, government organisations, trade associations, charities, and universities across the world.

    Stephen has also worked on Oxford’s Global Industry Service where he was responsible for forecasting the global transport sector, leading Oxford Economics' industry research, and managing consultancy projects for industrial organisations.

    Stephen joined Oxford Economics from the UK civil service, where he worked on a range of macroeconomic, fiscal, tax and welfare policy issues across HM Treasury, the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Department for Work and Pensions.

  • Evie Johnson

    Evie Johnson

    Senior Economist, Economic Footprint and Sustainability
    Evie Johnson

    Senior Economist, Economic Footprint and Sustainability

    Evie is a Senior Economist in the Economic Footprint and Sustainability team at Oxford Economics. She works on a variety of projects including economic footprint studies, cost-benefit analysis, and user model development.

    Evie holds a first-class BSc (Hons) in Economics and Politics with Industrial Experience from the University of Exeter and an MSc with Distinction in Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

  • James Bedford

    James Bedford

    Lead Economist, Economic Footprint & Sustainability
    James Bedford

    Lead Economist, Economic Footprint & Sustainability

    James is a Lead Economist working within the Economic Footprint and Sustainability team of Oxford Economics. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics from Newcastle University. For his dissertation, James was awarded the European Award for Aviation Economics by the German Aviation Research Society. Since joining the team in 2016, James has worked on a range of high-profile economic impact studies for clients including the World Brewing Alliance, Airbus, and Sky.

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