The World Market for Alcoholic Drinks

July 2025

Anaemic and subdued top line performance, a perfect storm of cyclical yet sustained macroeconomic pressures and a backdrop of structural lifestyle shifts – there is little doubt that the industry’s proverbial glass currently feels half -empty. However, opportunities still remain even as resilience is put to the test .

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Key findings

Anaemic growth; risks skewed to the downside

A toxic cocktail of sustained macroeconomic pressures, lifestyle shifts and geopolitical upheaval undermining consumer confidence is taking a toll on performances across the board. As black swan events and ongoing disruption can further derail recovery, the industry remains on the defensive.

Headwinds are both structural and cyclical

As a strong bounce-back consistently fails to materialise, acknowledging both short-term, tactical challenges and underlying, longer term strategic pain points will be key in navigating an increasingly dark and stormy outlook. Nevertheless, the industry’s evolutionary adaptability and role as a node of socialising will continue securing its relevance in a time of permacrisis.

Premiumisation peaks?

While aspirational consumption has been one of the main engines for growth over the past couple of decades, it will inevitably suffer in the face of unpresented pressures. Premiumisation will retain its relevance as an eclectic symbol of sophistication and status, but polarisation, and trading down and across will also gain traction as price point and positioning diversification become key.

RTDs to the rescue?

Inherently volatile and capturing the zeitgeist of every decade – primarily through capturing the imagination of younger demographics – RTDs are once again at the forefront of growth, providing respite to an otherwise bleak operating environment. As hard seltzers fade, spirit-based and non-alcoholic RTDs will increasingly gain share of throat and mind.

Riding the wave of sober curiosity

The much vaunted rise of adult non-alcoholic beverages retains its enviable booming trajectory. A genuine and fundamental paradigm shift, and perhaps the greatest disruptor within the alcohol industry, the trend should not be seen as antagonistic to it but rather as symbiotic, and should continue to be embraced, with functionality cues at the forefront of innovation and brand activity.

Our expert’s view of alcoholic drinks in 2024
Alcoholic drinks snapshot
Key findings
Finding opportunity against a sobering backdrop
Top five trends in alcoholic drinks
Top five trends uncovered
Drivers of consumer markets and impact on alcoholic drinks
Adjacent industries and how they impact alcoholic drinks
Sobering performance in the era of permacrisis
A birds eye view: Capturing the RTD wave
Treading water and finding pockets of growth
A bitter regional cocktail
Optionality not teetotalism: Cutting down cuts across demographics
Battening down the hatches: Key players in a defensive position
Dynamic companies face the spectre of permacrisis
The craft effect, fragmentation and private label as an underutilised escape valve
Spirits lead the race but RTDs cement their place as stalwarts of innovation
E-commerce growth slows down from pandemic peak but still effervescent
E-commerce in alcoholic drinks: Late to the party?
A spirited, ready-to-drink future?
Emerging markets to the rescue: Intoxicating opportunities amidst the gloom
A precarious recovery narrative: Will beer find its lost effervescence?
A glimpse behind the curtain: Learnings from Euromonitor’s Forecast Model
Trump’s agenda is haunting the world of alcoholic drinks
Social rituals against the backdrop of permacrisis
Opportunities for growth
Scope

Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic drinks is the aggregation of beer, wine, spirits, cider/perry and RTDs.

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