Odd Lots: Europe may be falling behind. Working less isn’t why
Some European countries work fewer hours but does that mean they're less productive? Economist Dominik Leusder joins Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway on the Odd Lots podcast to talk about how research suggests that fewer hours worked actually lead to an increase in productivity. (Source: Bloomberg)
Europe's beer consumption has been on the decline, with a 3.2% drop in 2025 and a 9.2% decrease since 2019, according to the Brewers of Europe. This slump is attributed to sober-curious Gen Z drinkers and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. Heineken's Europe president, Glenn Caton, attributes part of the problem to price inflation, noting that consumers have been drinking less as a result.
Heineken raised draught beer prices in Britain twice in 2025, leading to an average pint costing £5.34 in April. Despite returning to growth in 2026, Europe remains a struggling region for Heineken, with beer sales and volumes falling. Caton is focusing on cost-cutting measures, including a plan to cut up to 6,000 jobs globally over the next two years.
Heineken is also making strides in non-alcoholic beer, launching Heineken 0.0 in 2017 and expanding its range of alcohol-free options to better cater to consumers looking to moderate their drinking.
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