Then, we were able to calculate how much money underage drinkers are spending and, importantly, which companies are making this money. In the chart, we see the prevalence of alcohol dependence versus the average per capita alcohol consumption. There is no clear evidence that high overall consumption (particularly in moderate quantities) is connected to the onset of alcohol dependency. In the chart, we see the relationship between average celebrities drinking alcohol per capita alcohol consumption – in liters of pure alcohol per year – versus gross domestic product (GDP) per capita across countries. The charts show global consumption of spirits, which are distilled alcoholic drinks, including gin, rum, whisky, tequila, and vodka. Data indicate that consumers who purchase non-alcoholic products are also purchasing beverages with alcohol, and the percentage is increasing.
Alcohol-related deaths by age
While Gallup did not report consumption rates based on generation (e.g., Baby Boomer, Gen X), those who are in the 18 to 34 age category would include the “younger” portion of the Millennial generation and the adult proportion of Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012). It’s difficult to keep a running total of how much you spend on each alcoholic drink, particularly because prices vary dramatically. After all, the wine you purchase at a local store and consume james anderson author at home likely has a radically different price tag than the same bottle you purchased at a fine-dining restaurant.
IWSR indicates that “RTD growth has slowed due to a highly saturated hard seltzer segment.” Based on the 52 weeks ending November 5, 2022, off-premise hard cider sales decreased by 2.1%. While regional/local ciders, which account for 54% of the total hard cider sales, experienced positive growth (a 5.7% increase), national cider brands decreased in growth by 8.9%. Between 2022 and 2026, the no-alcohol category is expected to increase in volume by 25%, while the low-alcohol category will increase by 6%.
Alcoholic Beverage Consumption and Purchasing Trends 2024
This shows the expenditure on alcohol in how to help someone with a drinking problem the United States, differentiated by where the alcohol has been purchased and consumed. Data on alcohol expenditure is typically limited to North America, Europe, and Oceania. Percent differences between and among groups (e.g., gender, education) were not as pronounced for spirits.
Mental health disorders as a risk factor for alcohol dependency
With each new year comes a new set of alcohol beverage consumption statistics, trends, and predictions. As in years past, this article summarizes data from several sources to help readers understand what is happening in the alcoholic beverage space. This topic page looks at the data on global patterns of alcohol consumption, patterns of drinking, beverage types, the prevalence of alcoholism, and consequences, including crime, mortality, and road incidents. In 2023, vodka accounted for 27% of total spirits volume, and flavored vodkas accounted for 21% of all vodkas sold. One source indicates that flavored vodkas “are trending” due to the variety of flavors available (e.g., traditional fruit flavors to bacon, jalapeño, and wasabi flavors), and “high-quality” vodkas use “natural ingredients,” with premium brands using “only the finest fruits, herbs, and spices to create their signature profiles.” In the chart, we see data across some countries on the share of people with an alcohol use disorder who received treatment.
- There is no clear evidence that high overall consumption (particularly in moderate quantities) is connected to the onset of alcohol dependency.
- In a related chart, you can see the share who drink alcohol by gender and age group in the UK.
- Although those in lower income or educational status groups often drink less overall, they are more likely to have lower-frequency, higher-intensity drinking patterns.
- Meanwhile, federal funding specifically dedicated to the prevention of underage drinking is minimal.
- The percent change in total volume for certain beverages and the percent change in premium-and-above alcohol volume in 2022, as reported by IWSR are listed below.
Further reports
Data on the prevalence of binge drinking by age and gender in the UK can be found here, and trends in heavy and binge drinking in the USA can be found here. In a related chart, you can see the share who drink alcohol by gender and age group in the UK. Alcohol has historically, and continues to, hold an important role in social engagement and bonding for many. Gen Z consumers aged 18 to 24 are more likely to have made or purchased a mocktail, 33% of those surveyed, than other age groups and more likely to buy a mocktail at a restaurant than older generations.
A system, independent of the industry, that would collect and allocate these unwanted revenues could be a better way to get it to local communities and help reduce and prevent underage drinking. But no independent fund was ever created, and the alcohol companies themselves continue to control the money they contribute to preventing underage drinking, largely spending it on branded “corporate social responsibility” efforts that do more to promote their products than prevent harmful drinking. Many of the risk factors for alcohol dependency are similar to those of overall drug use disorders (including illicit drug disorders). Further discussion on these risk factors can be found on our topic page on drug use.
Other trends include using alternative barrels, such as cherry wood and acacia, to age whiskey and cask crossbreeding, which is the process of “blending whiskey from different cask types…such as bourbon barrels with…sherry or wine casks.” Brad Nichols, Flavorman’s director of Business Development, indicated that “coffee will also continue to expand flavorings and follow-suit of its symbiotic pollinating friends, via botanical and herbal roots.” Aside from age range, who was more likely to select beer as their beverage of choice? Compared to their counterparts, those with an annual household income of less than $50,000 (48%), males (53%), as well as those with a high school level of education or less (52%). Hop water is a “carbonated beverage made with hops,” which “tastes a lot like beer, but contains zero alcohol, as well as zero calories, carbs, sugar or gluten.”
The following table contains data from two sources with consumption statistics segmented based on age range/generation. The map shows the share of all road traffic deaths attributed to alcohol consumption over the national legal limit for alcohol consumption. Measuring the health impact by mortality alone fails to capture the impact that alcohol use disorders have on an individual’s well-being.
For non-alcoholic beverages, sales for the 52 weeks ending October 7, 2023, compared to the year before, increased by 32%, while total alcoholic beverage sales for the same period only increased by 1%. Pertaining to share, non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 70%, and low-alcohol accounted for 30% of the combined category. While trends generally indicate an increased interest and purchasing of premium-priced alcoholic beverages, there is evidence that younger consumers are particularly interested in trading up. In France in the 1920s, the average was 22.1 liters of pure alcohol per person per year.