Covid-19 sends global wine consumption to lowest level since 2002

Wine drinking worldwide fell last year to its lowest level since 2002 as bars and restaurants shut their doors and tourism travel dried up amid the coronavirus pandemic. – Photo: AFP

Wine drinking worldwide fell last year to its lowest level since 2002 as bars and restaurants shut their doors and tourism travel dried up amid the coronavirus pandemic, a trade body reported Tuesday.

Overall consumption fell three percent to some 234 million hectolitres in 2020, the Paris-based International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) said.