NIQ

The beverage-alcohol landscape doesn’t slow down, even when categories do. In this latest quarterly installment of 3 Up, 3 Down, 3 Tier Beverages takes a data-driven look at what’s gaining momentum – and what’s losing ground – across beer, wine, spirits, and non-alc (NA), with NIQ off-premise data through August 9, 2025.

The growth of spirits-based ready-to-drink cocktails (RTDs) may be slowing. However, the segment’s impact on the beer category is far from abating, according to bev-alc consulting and data firm 3 Tier Beverages.

Spirits-based RTD growth peaked in 2020, with dollar sales growth of more than 150% in NIQ-tracked off-premise channels (total U.S. xAOC plus liquor plus convenience), 3 Tier Beverages consultant Erin McVickers shared in a webinar last week. Growth then progressively slowed, but the segment was still able to more than double dollar sales from 2021 (nearly $1.53 billion) to 2024 (nearly $3.19 billion).

Consumers’ interest in single-serve and other “alternatives to the norm” in package sizes could be a sticky trend across not just beer, but other bev-alc categories as well, according to the latest monthly report from Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).

Bev-alc sales continued to decline in the two-week period ending August 9, although cider and ready-to-drink (RTD) spirits are still enjoying a slight summer boost, according to analysis of NIQ data from Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

The adult non-alc category is on its way to hitting $1 billion in off-premise sales as new entries shake up the top brand families and begin to drive prices down, according to market research firm NIQ.

“Flavored alcohol” across categories has become a lonely bright spot for the bev-alc industry, which is finding itself particularly pessimistic in 2025, according to the latest monthly report from Bump Williams of Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).

Beverage-alcohol sales are down 3% year-to-date (YTD) in off-premise channels, market research firm NIQ shared in its “Halftime Report.” Beer, wine and spirits dollar sales topped $53 billion as of July 5, the firm reported. Declines occurred across all off-premise measured channels.

Consumers’ embrace of moderation when it comes to beverage-alcohol is well documented, but their reasons for doing so are varied, according to research from insights firm NIQ.

Nearly a quarter of consumers (23.3%) have stopped drinking, or are taking a break from bev-alc, according to a recent survey by Bump Williams Consulting (BWC).

Half of consumers went out for a drink in March, and on-premise visitations aren’t expected to slow down despite economic uncertainty, according to NIQ’s on-premise marketing research arm CGA.

Off-premise trends across beverage-alcohol suggest an even bleaker year ahead for the industry than “what we already limped through in 2024,” according to the latest monthly update from Bump Williams Consulting (BWC) and founder Bump Williams.

St. Patrick’s Day gave the on-premise a welcome boost, but it wasn’t completely sunny for the bev-alc industry, according to the latest report by CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ.

Brewers Association-defined craft beer recorded a -4% decline in packaged volume in 2024, BA staff economist Matt Gacioch reported this week in the trade group’s annual packaging report.

While consumers were optimistic about their Dry January plans in December, those plans quickly changed for some, according to the latest report from CGA, the on-premise arm of market research firm NIQ.