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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| UK tops world wine imports table | UK tops world wine imports table |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| It may be more commonly associated with lager louts or warm bitter, but the UK has become the world's biggest importer of wine, according to new figures. | It may be more commonly associated with lager louts or warm bitter, but the UK has become the world's biggest importer of wine, according to new figures. |
| Imports topped 1.6bn bottles in 2007, according to the industry body Vinexpo. | Imports topped 1.6bn bottles in 2007, according to the industry body Vinexpo. |
| Wine from Australia proved most popular among British drinkers, ahead of French and American imports, it said. | Wine from Australia proved most popular among British drinkers, ahead of French and American imports, it said. |
| Adults are likely to get through 28.3 litres a year on average, well short of the world's most prolific wine drinkers - the French - who sink 58.8 litres. | Adults are likely to get through 28.3 litres a year on average, well short of the world's most prolific wine drinkers - the French - who sink 58.8 litres. |
| Despite the increasing quantities of wine flowing into the UK, the industry has not escaped the effects of the economic downturn. | Despite the increasing quantities of wine flowing into the UK, the industry has not escaped the effects of the economic downturn. |
| Sales dropped by more than 3.5% in the first nine months of 2008, largely due to falling sales in pubs. | Sales dropped by more than 3.5% in the first nine months of 2008, largely due to falling sales in pubs. |
| Annual growth in the wine market is expected to halve to 6% by 2012 although consumption will still increase, the Vinexpo report said. | |
| Whisky sales down | Whisky sales down |
| White wine will increase in popularity from an estimated 764 million bottles last year to 823 million by 2012 and rose sales are expected to rise by almost 50% to 220 million. | White wine will increase in popularity from an estimated 764 million bottles last year to 823 million by 2012 and rose sales are expected to rise by almost 50% to 220 million. |
| Britons got through 720 million bottles of red in 2008 but this is expected to fall to 687 million by 2012. | Britons got through 720 million bottles of red in 2008 but this is expected to fall to 687 million by 2012. |
| Meanwhile, Scotch is continuing to lose out in the popularity stakes to the UK's favourite spirit - vodka. | Meanwhile, Scotch is continuing to lose out in the popularity stakes to the UK's favourite spirit - vodka. |
| Vinexpo, which organises the world's biggest wine and spirits exhibition, said sales of whisky dropped 11% between 2003 and 2007 and will continue falling. | Vinexpo, which organises the world's biggest wine and spirits exhibition, said sales of whisky dropped 11% between 2003 and 2007 and will continue falling. |
| In 2007, Britons bought 96 million bottles of vodka and that is predicted to rise by a fifth in the next three years. | In 2007, Britons bought 96 million bottles of vodka and that is predicted to rise by a fifth in the next three years. |