Hard liquor pendulum swings again.
I’ll tell my brothers to drink more...I rarely touch the stuff...
People just don’t have that much cash to spend on “extras” and frivolous items. Ozempic also curbs your appetite for alcohol. Beer sales are also down.
Cocktails seemed pretty trendy a few years ago, but I get the feeling that Gen Z doesn’t drink much at all. Not all of them are old enough to drink, but some of them are close to 30 now. If the 20-something market isn’t there, it’s gonna hurt.
In 1913 the US income tax was passed. Before that the Federal Gov’t was funded by tariffs, alcohol and tobacco taxes. The ATF enforced these taxes and still does. (firearms taxes too)
“who are dealing with increased production costs”
BS, their costs are now not much more than before Covid.
“a slowdown in spirits sales in the U.S. marketplace.”
Yes because they would rather go bankrupt than lower their prices. They raised them during Covid and insist on keeping them up at Covid prices.
“and a significant disruption to spirits exports due to threat of tariffs and retaliation related to ongoing trade disputes,”
This is true, the lack of this market is hurting them. But only because they refuse to lower prices to sell more in our own market. Beer is the same way, it is 150% more than it should be.
The booze industry is pricing themselves right out of business. Many industries are doing that, they just absolutely refuse to go back to pre-covid sensible pricing.
I mentioned this on another thread. Younger people don’t drink like they used to. Their choice of a buzz is weed. It is rampant. Weed produces a nice buzz with zero hangover. Plus booze has gotten expensive.
Kids are into coolers. The distilleries should adapt by coming out a cooler variant of whiskies.
May not be popular but Trump is killing them.
Come on people! The DemonRATS need more drunken voters!!! Hrumpf! Hrumpf!
Total wine has trouble keeping Evan Williams in stock.
The stuff is flying off the shelf.
Younger generation are definitely NOT bourbon and scotch drinkers!!!
Canucks are switching to wine and coolers
https://madeinca.ca/alcohol-consumption-statistics-canada/
Cannabis up, alcohol, beer and wine mostly down
https://retail-insider.com/bulletin/2025/03/governments-earn-15-7b-from-alcohol-cannabis-statistics-canada/
I should start writing a substack!!!!
Despite a 2.5% increase in the price of alcoholic beverages from March 2023 to March 2024, total alcohol sales dropped by 0.1%, totaling $26.2 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. On a volume basis, sales of alcohol fell by 3.8%, marking the largest volume decline on record since Statistics Canada began tracking alcohol sales in 1949. In total, 2,988 million litres of alcohol were sold in 2023/2024. On average, Canadians of legal drinking age consumed the equivalent of 8.7 standard alcoholic beverages per week, down from 9.2 in the previous fiscal year, explained Statistics Canada
Recreational cannabis sales saw a significant rise of 11.6%, reaching $5.2 billion in 2023/2024. This growth, though slower than the previous year’s 15.8% increase, reflects continued consumer demand for cannabis products. The increase in cannabis sales occurred despite a 2.8% decrease in the price of cannabis products during the same period, according to Statistics Canada.
Inhaled extracts emerged as the fastest-growing cannabis category, with a remarkable 31.4% increase in sales, accounting for over two-thirds of the overall $0.5 billion increase in cannabis sales
I just got my bottle of 1792 12 Year Aged bourbon. Bourbon distilleries will just consolidate.
Perhaps we need to bring back the era of “Mad Men,” when corporate management accommodated hard drinking men who had fought in WW II and Korea by sending drinks carts through the office starting at 11 AM. If nothing else, it would help to draw people back to the office.
This is the dirty underbelly of American capitalism especially the private equity part of it. Don't know how much of it affects these companies, but the usual pattern is pay a high price to buy up a company, load it up with debt while paying out to the insiders and then letting it go all while lowering quality to lower costs to make it look more attractive.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy is not a failure or collapse. It is a restructuring while under creditor protection. Many companies survive and emerge better off.
Things I see less of these days:
Purely unscientific of course.
Cigars
High end liquor
Harleys
Golf
Expensive restaurants
Things change.
The cost of a alcoholic beverage at a restaurant is ridiculous anymore. Add that to the cost of the meal and the tip and you get set back a lot to go out for dinner.
The average Americans are hurting financially and that means doing without.
It is not Trump’s fault, but things are still overpriced and very few have recovered from Joe Biden’s damage to the country.
I do my part supporting the Wild Turkey brand 😁