In this article, we are going to discuss the 5 most consumed alcohols in the world. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of the global alcohol industry, the most consumed liquor brands in the world, the largest alcohol company in the world, and the fastest growing alcohol category, head to the 20 Most Consumed Alcohols in the World.
5. Whiskey
Global Market Size in 2022: $64 billion
The consumption of alcohol is shifting away from beer and wine and millennials are more likely to experiment with other alcoholic beverages, resulting in the growth of a ‘cocktail culture’. As a result of this tendency, the use of whiskey as a premium ingredient has increased.
2022 was a great year for Scotch whisky and exports of Scotland’s native spirit hit $7.5 billion last year, the highest figures ever. Exports by volume also rose substantially, with the number of 700 ml bottles shipped overseas up by 21%, to 1.67 billion.
4. Baijiu
Global Market Size in 2022: $95.21 billion
For those who are unfamiliar, baijiu is a vast category of clear yet complex spirits that has played a prominent role in China’s drinking culture since the Ming Dynasty. Baijiu is most commonly distilled from sorghum, although other grains – including rice, wheat, corn, and millet – pop up in proprietary blends throughout the country.
Last year, consumers in China guzzled through $91 billion worth of baijiu, making it one of the world’s most-consumed spirits. However, the potent potable remains less well-known outside the nation.
China ranks among the Countries that Drink the Most Alcohol in the World.
3. Liqueurs
Global Market Size in 2022: $128.9 billion
A liqueur is a distilled spirit like vodka or brandy that is sweetened with sugar or syrup, and oftentimes it also contains flavoring agents such as fruit, herbs, and oils. Most liqueurs are sweet, but some have a bitter taste as well, depending on the herbs used. As liqueurs pack a lot of flavor in, but are lower in alcohol than brown or white spirits, they are preferred by the more health-conscious consumers.
Baileys was the largest global liqueur brand worldwide in 2022, with volume sales amounting to approximately 8.8 million 9 liter cases. Malibu ranked in second place, with sales of around 4.8 million cases last year.
2. Wine
Global Market Size in 2022: $441.6 billion
Wine is gaining huge popularity among millennials and youngsters, owing to its refreshing appeal and low ABV offerings. The rising demand for premium and luxury wines, increasing consumer awareness about the health benefits of wine, and growing popularity of wine tourism are some of the key factors driving the growth of the wine market.
The global wine consumption in 2022 was estimated to be at 232 million hectoliters, marking a decrease of 1% compared to the previous year. Since 2018, wine consumption around the world has decreased at a regular rate. This negative trend can be mainly attributed to the decline in China’s consumption, which has lost an average 2 million hectoliters per year since 2018.
1. Beer
Global Market Size in 2022: $793.74 billion
It comes as no surprise that beer is the most consumed alcohol in the world. In fact, after water and tea, beer is the most popular drink worldwide. In the 2022 brewing year, the global beer production ended up increasing slightly YoY by 1.3% to 1.89 billion hectoliters. However, the market is yet to return to its pre-pandemic levels, when production peaked at 1.91 billion hectoliters in 2019.
The overall demand for premium and low-calorie beers, the rising popularity of craft beer, and the expansion of distribution networks in emerging markets are expected to continue driving growth in the global beer market over the next few years.
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