No drought in drinks sector as heat makes everyone thirsty

Annual drinks consumption, alcoholic and soft, is estimated to be in the region of 3.1 billion liters and beverage producers are predicting this year 's sales will be higher than in previous years. "Sales of Sonda are increasing by 100% every month, and sales of juices in April and May were higher than in 1998 and 1999," said Sonda's Jacek Tazbirek. Nearly every beverage company has increased its sales significantly compared to this time last year, and the increases are being attributed to the recent extremely hot and sunny weather. Beverage companies are well prepared this year for the summer season and some may even add a third shift to the workday and use additional production lines. The brewing industry, including microbreweries, has also recorded a sharp increase in sales for the first five months of this year, up by 11% over last year. (Rzeczpospolita, B3) M.M.