Alcoholic Beverages

The alcoholic beverages industry encompasses beer, wine, spirits, and other alcoholic beverages. Many companies operating in the industry have brands spanning multiple subsectors, but the biggest alcoholic beverage company, AB Inbev focuses only on beer.

An emerging trend in the industry follows the general trend towards health and wellness in the overall food and beverage industry. As a growing number of consumers, particularly younger consumers, are trying to limit their intake of alcohol, more companies across the spectrum of the industry have begun offering low and no-alcoholic options, to great success. Additionally, consumers are showing growing interest in alternative beverages like hard seltzer and other ready-to-drink offerings. Consumers are also cutting back on their alcoholic intake because of rising prices, favoring more premium options when they do choose to drink.

Biggest regional beer producer
Americas
Total global wine consumption
24.4bn liters
Total global spirits consumption
36.4bn liters

Market size

Growth for years to come

Revenue of the alcoholic drinks market worldwide from 2018 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Revenue of the alcoholic drinks market worldwide from 2018 to 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

The alcoholic beverages market is expected to grow by around 37 percent by 2028 to over 2.1 trillion U.S. dollars in value from 2022's value of 1.53 trillion dollars.

Much of the alcoholic beverages market revenue comes from the two largest country markets in the world, the United States and China. In terms of categories, spirits is the dominant beverage in the industry.

Alcohol beverages in Europe
Alcoholic beverages in the U.S.
Alcoholic beverages in LATAM

Market segments

Beer is dethroned

Sales market share of the United States alcohol industry from 2000 to 2023, by beverage

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Further details: Visit original statistic Sales market share of the United States alcohol industry from 2000 to 2023, by beverage

Beer accounted for 41.8 percent of all alcoholic beverage sales in the United States in 2023. Spirits surpassed beer for the first time at 42.1 percent of the market in 2022.

Beer has been steadily losing market share since 2000 when it accounted for over half of all sales. Spirits have been the main benefactor of this slump, picking up over ten points of market share since that time. Meanwhile, wine has stayed relatively unchanged in its position.

Wine market in the U.S.
Beer industry
Spirit brands

Industry trends

Growing interest in reducing alcohol

Intent to participate in Dry January in the United States in 2024, by age

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Further details: Visit original statistic Intent to participate in Dry January in the United States in 2024, by age

Interest is growing in reducing alcohol consumption and exploring alternatives, with younger consumers leading the way. In 2024, 75 percent of 21 to 24-year-olds intended to participate in Dry January, compared to just 31 percent of consumers 55 and older.

The growth of interest in alcohol reduction among younger generations can be tied to a wider trend of greater concern about physical and mental well-being than their older counterparts.

Gen Z alcohol consumption
Non-alcoholic beer industry

Industry leaders

Anheuser-Busch InBev is a beverage giant

Leading beverage companies worldwide in 2022, based on sales (in million U.S. dollars)

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Further details: Visit original statistic Leading beverage companies worldwide in 2022, based on sales (in million U.S. dollars)

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the Belgian brewing company responsible for such brands as Budweiser, Corona, and Beck's is not only the largest alcoholic beverages company in the world but also the largest beverage company altogether with sales of over 57 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. Diageo came second with roughly half the sales of AB InBev in that year.

It should come as no surprise that brewers top the list, as beer is the most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage worldwide.

Beer industry
Spirit brands
Wine market in the U.S.

State of the industry

  • Beer: market data & analysis
  • Spirits: market data & analysis
  • Wine: market data & analysis
  • Alcoholic beverages worldwide
  • Spirits market worldwide
  • Global beer market
  • Global wine market
  • European wine market
  • Spirits market in the U.S.
  • Beer market in Europe

Industry definition

The alcoholic beverages industry is comprised of companies that manufacture and sell beverages containing alcohol from various sources. The main segments of the industry are beer, wine, and spirits. Among these exist various subsegments differentiated by their production materials and techniques, and the flavors and alcohol content they produce. All alcoholic beverages share the commonality of fermenting some source of sugar at some stage in their production in order to produce alcohol.

Beer is the most commonly consumed alcoholic beverage on the planet and for this reason, the world's largest beer brewers are also the largest alcoholic drink manufacturers on the planet, with Belgian AB InBev leading the pack. Spirits, which are produced by distilling after fermentation are the next largest market, are led by the British company Diageo. Finally, wine, made from fermented grapes is the smallest major alcohol segment. The largest producer is E&J Gallo Winery.

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