It is thought that the World Cup, along with several weeks of surprisingly warm weather, has contributed to the increase in sales of 2.9% over the past four months.

It is the first rise in four years, the Quarterly Beer Barometer said.

But the good news on sales has only affected supermarkets, not pubs, the industry body revealed.

Pubs, in fact, have seen a drop in sales of more than 6%.

"The pubs have been hit because people aren't going out as much as they were before the economy took a fall," a spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association told Sky News Online.

"And while people are still going to the pubs, they might go once a week, not three times, as they did before."

Chief executive Brigid Simmonds added: "The World Cup has certainly been a benefit to Britain's beer sector and we can now hope that the market is starting to turn a corner.

"While there is some reason for cheer, it has to be noted that beer sales in pubs are still falling and the nation's pubs need support.

"The Government must carefully consider how best to use its Review of Alcohol Taxation to rebalance the tax system, freeze beer tax and support Britain's pubs, recognising the economic and social contribution of these vital community assets.

"Some 60% of drink sales in community pubs are beer, so a beer tax break would be a real benefit to their business."