We are.... less drunk!

People the world over are tending to drink less alcohol. While this could signal bad news for breweries, vineyards and distilleries, it's probably better for our livers and national health services (for those countries lucky enough to have them!).

The global consumption for wine stood at 214.2m hectolitres last year, or 8500 Olympic swimming pools of wine, the lowest level since 1961!

Even in the UK, home of binge drinking, the total beverage alcohol market has declined an average of 1% a year since 2018, a trend that's projected to continue for the next five years.

While the market for low or no alcohol drinks doubled in the last year, with a projected growth of 20% per annum for the next five years.

Less drunk, but only just!

Qualitative Shifts...

It's not all doom and gloom for the alcohol industry, I mean a 1% decline per year in the UK is not too dramatic, and as you can see that's compensated partially by the growth of the no and los.

More generally people are more concerned with quality rather than quantity. People are more likely to buy from boutique distilleries or half a pint of premium craft ale (if you are a homosexual or over 80, otherwise it's still a pint even if it's £8).

And why the change....?

It's a cultural shift led by the youth.... Gen Z just aren't up for binging as much as my generation were in our teens and 20s, and the rest of us have gotten more health conscious too, we are more aware of the risks of alcohol.

It's just not as socially acceptable to get WASTED as it used to be.

I think maybe cost has got something to do with it too: duties are pricey, and so one craft beer or quality gin is more in reach I guess, but then again people are prepared to pay MORE for well marketed booze, people are still mugs at the end of the day, just less likely to be drunk mugs I guess.

Final thoughts...

I personally still like to sink a few every now and then, but it's my age which means I'm now drinking less, I just like to be active, and even 2 pints can stop my morning run these days, so I have to plan my binges more.

See, I am drinking smarter too!

Posted Using INLEO