No surprise! American's guzzled the most alcohol in 20 years in 2020

Yes, during the pandemic, American’s guzzled the most alcohol in 20 years in 2020. The data of alcohol volume in the US in 2020 was up +2.0%, marking the largest gain for alcohol consumption in the country since 2002, this according to new findings from IWSR, a website that tracks alcohol trends.

“A key driver of US beverage alcohol consumption is flavor,” says Brand Rand, IWSR’s COO of the Americas. “Flavored subcategories – from beer to vodka to US whiskey – are significantly outperforming traditional non-flavored sub-categories. Flavor is also the top consumer driver of the fast-growing ready-to-drink (RTD) category. That fact is creating a halo effect on total alcohol as well.”

What Did We Drink?

In 2020, the US market posted the largest volume increase for the spirits category since 1990, with value increasing as well.

Within the category, agave-based spirits grew +15.9% in volume in 2020, overtaking rum to be the third largest spirits category in the US, behind vodka and whisky. Cognac/Armagnac was also a big winner last year and both categories are expected to continue their growth path over the next 5 years.

The whisky category showed mixed results in 2020, as tariffs negatively impacted single malt Scotch (-6.1% in volume) while bar and restaurant closures dragged down Irish whiskey. 2020 marked the first time on record that these two sub-categories post volume declines in the US. Overall, total whisky volumes grew +4.9%, led by Japanese, Indian and US whiskies, in that order. The whisky category’s growth, however, is outpacing vodka, with total whisky expected to be larger than total vodka in volume consumption by 2022.

No- and low-alcohol spirits are being driven by alcohol-free spirit alternatives and spirit-adjacent products that focus on mood-enhancing properties like adaptogens. Though trending from a small base, no-alcohol spirits are expected to end 2021 up +31.4% in the US.

Wine resonates with consumers during lockdowns

Total wine in the US grew slightly at +0.7% by volume and +1.5% by value in 2020, reversing the volume declines seen in 2019. Both still and sparkling wine volumes were up, but still wine is forecast to go back to softening declines as RTDs and spirits grow at faster rates. Despite a non-celebratory 2020, sparkling wine managed to post growth, with Prosecco (especially rosé expressions) making up for declines in Champagne consumption.

Low-alcohol wine volumes more than doubled in 2020 in the US, with major brands entering the category offering lower calorie and lower sugar options in sessionable ABVs – a direct response to RTD occasion overlap pressure. Imported wine volumes grew more than domestic US wine from markets such as Chile, Italy, and New Zealand, which did not have tariffs in place.

RTDs set to become second largest beverage alcohol category in the US, in terms of volume consumption

The biggest gains in beverage alcohol consumption in the US last year were seen across the RTD category (which includes the popular hard seltzer sub-category), making RTDs more sizable in volume than total spirits in the US, and by the end of 2021, larger than total wine.

RTDs grew +62.3% by volume in 2020, led by hard seltzers which grew +130%. Hard seltzers represent over 55% share of the RTD category followed by flavored alcoholic beverages (FABs), and ready-to-drink cocktails/long drinks.

“Though the cocktail/long drink sub-category is still comparatively small by volume, the segment grew +52.7% in 2020. Canned cocktail growth spurred by on-premise closures and the on-premise pivot to ‘drinks to go,’ are the reason,” notes Rand.

The IWSR has tracked a rise in spirit-based RTD launches at a higher price points. But, volumes remain small compared to the traditional malt-based segment. However, several US states have recently passed or are reviewing legislation to reduce spirit-based RTD tax reductions.

The overall RTD category shows no signs of slowing down. IWSR expects RTDs to grow to be 22% volume share of total beverage alcohol by 2025 in the US.

No- and low-alcohol beer is a bright spot for the beer category

Beer continued annual volume declines with a -2.8% loss in the US in 2020. Volume sales of imported beer are up, but not enough to sustain losses in domestic beer volume. Nonetheless, imported beer grew market share in 2020.

A bright spot for the category is no-and low-alcohol beer. Additionally, flavored beer grew +10.4% in the US in 2020, driven by cheladas and radlers.