Jews are generally not known as big drinkers. And when their beer consumption is placed in international perspective, Israelis are shockingly laggard. Today, the average German drinks some 39 gallons of beer a year, according to figures from the Industry and Trade Ministry. The English are not far behind, at nearly 38 gallons per capita, while the average American tosses back 26 gallons a year. Estimates vary slightly for how much Israelis drink, but the highest one is just under 4.5 gallons per person a year.
Beer is beer.
We don't have the same culture of beer in Israel like you have in Europe. The heaviest group of Israeli drinkers are young people ages 18 to 29, who account for 53 percent of those who have at least one drink a week. Those in their 30s make up 11 percent of Israeli drinkers, while those in their 40s comprise another 15 percent, according to Tempo's beer brand manager, Eran Yaniv. Beer consumption in Israel has actually has fallen 15 percent in the past three years, says Yaniv, as the number of foreign laborers and tourists here has decreased. Israel Beer flew dozens of Israelis to the MTV music video awards in Milan this fall.