Recent research finds 22% of Americans say they are drinking less domestic beer because they are drinking wine instead.
January 28/Chicago/Press Release -- According to new research from Mintel, some 22% of Americans say they are drinking less domestic beer because they are drinking wine instead, and 18% are focusing their alcohol consumption on liquor in lieu of domestic beer. Despite flat volume sales on the traditional domestic front, craft beer continues to make inroads, especially among the all-important 25-34 age group, where 51% feel that smaller producers make better quality products than their larger brethren.
However, competition is not the only issue, because 20% of Americans say they are cutting back on domestic beer consumption because it has too many calories and 15% believe it to be unhealthy. This has helped buoy the sales of wine, traditionally seen as a healthier option, which saw sales increase 2.6% in 2013 to an estimated $42 billion, compared to a rather stagnant 0.3% increase for beer. Overall, 53% of U.S. consumers say they have had liquor in the last six months, and 52% have enjoyed wine, while 52% have had any domestic beer and 45% any imported beer, including regular and lower-calorie products.