As we move further away from summer and the FIFA World Cup, lager sales are dipping, according to the latest supermarket data from NIQ.

Compared to this time last year, NIQ found that lager sales declined by 2%, while cider dropped by 1.6% and stout dipped by 1.2%.

At the same time, pre-mixed alcoholic drinks bucked the trend, remaining in value growth with a 24.7% sales increase.

In general, total alcohol value sales fell by 0.4% compared to last year. In contrast, soft drinks increased by 10.2%.

Elsewhere, NIQ said that health remains a focus, with 12% of UK households now containing a GLP-1 user – a shift that has been found to impact both food and alcohol consumption.

Aiming for health, 31% of UK consumers said that they were checking food labels and avoiding certain additives.

The trend also migrates beyond food and into alcoholic drinks, as found in a recent investigation by Drinks Retailing, as customers look for wellness in more aspects of their lives.

Mike Watkins, head of retailer and business insights at NIQ, said that September is likely to remain a month in which customers tighten their budgeting, “following one of the hottest summers on record, which encouraged consumers to spend more freely”.

He continued that one in three households cite the cost of living as their biggest concern, while almost three-quarters expected to be impacted by financial pressures this autumn.

Watkins added: “Looking ahead, increased consumer scrutiny of spending creates the potential for greater price sensitivity and promotional intensity. As retailers enter the golden quarter, they will need to work harder and smarter to drive volume growth.”