Are People Really Drinking More During The Pandemic?

IWSR looks to answer this question with the publication of an in-depth assessment of beverage alcohol consumption and consumer behaviour in 2020.

In the early days of Covid-19 lockdown, reports of consumers panic buying beverage alcohol led to the impression that people were drinking more than usual during the pandemic. Although pantry loading behaviour soon tapered off, many industry watchers were asking themselves, “are consumers drinking more during Covid-19?”

IWSR looks to answer this question with the publication of an in-depth assessment of beverage alcohol consumption and consumer behaviour this past year. IWSR’s analysis covers 20 key markets (including the global travel retail channel) that drive 75%+ of global alcohol volumes.

Beverage alcohol volume consumption will fall by -8% in 2020

IWSR data shows that beverage alcohol volume consumption during the pandemic was down across almost all markets, including Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the UK and the global travel retail channel. Only the US and Canada will see increases in beverage alcohol volume consumption in 2020 (both at over 2% total volume increases). In total, beverage alcohol volumes across the 19 countries are set to fall by -8% in 2020. Global travel retail volumes are forecast to be down -68% in 2020.