Prague, April 7 — Gabriela Galetkova, a media consultant from Prague, still treasures the tradition of visiting local pubs several times a week to meet friends, a cornerstone of Czech beer culture. At 54, Galetkova, who frequents a bar serving the iconic Pilsner lager, firmly believes that Czech beer culture deserves international recognition, especially as bar visits decline.
“I won’t buy beer to drink at home. For me, Czech beer culture is about meeting people in a typical Czech pub,” Galetkova shared with AFP at a Prague bar, where patrons enjoy a frothy pint of Pilsner.
Although beer consumption in the Czech Republic remains high, many Czechs are shifting away from pub visits, often due to rising costs. In response to this trend, Czech beer professionals are pushing for the country’s beer culture to be listed on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list, which they believe would help reinvigorate the industry.
Tomas Slunecko, head of the Czech Beer and Malt Association, argues that Czech beer culture is deserving of such recognition, noting its global reputation. “Wherever you go in Europe or the world, people ask you about Czech beer,” said Slunecko, a former diplomat. He pointed to Belgium’s success in securing a UNESCO listing for its beer culture in 2016, which he believes boosted the country’s beer-making reputation both locally and internationally.
The Czech culture ministry has already placed Czech beer culture on the national list, marking the first step toward international recognition. Slunecko and his colleagues are now working to promote their bid for UNESCO status.
Beer-making in the Czech Republic dates back more than a thousand years, and beer remains a significant part of Czech history and culture. Today, the country boasts over 550 breweries, with 500 of them being small-scale operations that have emerged during a recent boom. Czech breweries employ approximately 65,000 people, produce around 20 million hectolitres of beer annually, and export a significant portion of their output, primarily to other European Union countries.
Despite the nation’s rich brewing heritage, beer consumption has begun to decline. In 2023, Czechs consumed 128 litres of beer per person, maintaining a world-leading position. However, this was a decrease from 143 litres per person a decade ago. Rising beer prices, driven by tax hikes and increased production costs, have made beer in pubs more expensive than it once was. A pint of Pilsner Urquell in Prague now costs around CZK 70 ($3), prompting many drinkers to switch to cheaper supermarket options.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation by forcing pubs to close and limiting tourism, which traditionally contributed to a significant portion of beer sales in Czech pubs. According to the Czech Chamber of Commerce, 15 percent of local pubs closed during the pandemic, and another 15 percent changed ownership. In many small towns and villages, public houses have disappeared altogether.
Slunecko noted that the share of beer consumed in pubs has dropped significantly, from a near 50-50 split between pubs and home consumption to just 30 percent for pubs. “Many Czechs are now opting for a healthier lifestyle or meeting friends online,” he said, acknowledging that this shift is part of a broader European trend.
As the Czech Republic seeks to preserve and promote its beer culture, its bid for UNESCO recognition remains a crucial step in ensuring the survival and celebration of this integral aspect of national identity.
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