What you need to know
Alcoholic drinks remain a core part of many adults’ food and drink repertoires, with 80% of Brits drinking these. However, many consumers are cutting back on their alcohol intake, largely on financial and health grounds, which has contributed to stagnating or falling volume sales in many categories. A quality over quantity mentality has emerged in which many are now looking for better quality drinks for the fewer occasions in which they drink.
Despite volume sales falling, a trend which is expected to slow or even finally turn the corner in the coming years, value sales have increased in many categories fuelled by rising prices and, in some cases, trading up. Many brands have enjoyed robust value and volume growth despite tough recent trading conditions. The overall value of the alcoholic drinks market rose by 11% over 2010-14, with further growth expected to push the market towards £42.9 billion in 2015.
Research for this report explores the ways in which brands can tap into current consumer trends such as the focus on flavour and premium drinks such as craft.
Scope of report
This report explores usage of, and attitudes towards alcoholic drinks. This includes all types of alcohol, as well as low/non-alcoholic variants of drinks that typically contain alcohol (eg alcohol-free beer). The report excludes soft drinks such as carbonated soft drinks and juices.
Both on- and off-trade sales are included in the total market size. However, brand performance data only reports sales through the off-trade channel and does not include sales through venues such as pubs, bars and restaurants.
