Figures published by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) found that 161 pints of ale and lagers were sold over the three-month period ending in September.

This amounted to a fall in sales of 1.8m pints a day, a decline attributed to ongoing financial uncertainty, according to the association.

In a sign of the potential impact of a recession on the industry, the BBPA said that total sales volumes fell at both on-trade outlets like pubs and off-trade stores like supermarkets over the period.