Beer healthy for European economy

Europe is the most important beer producer in the world, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by accounting firm Ernst & Young, also highlights the importance of the brewing sector's contribution to the European economy. The sector had a turnover of around €57.5 billion or the equivalent to the GDP of the Polish or Austrian economy in the last quarter of 2004.

Of the seven largest brewers in the world, four are European while more than 3,000 European small and medium en...