US
Better times for beer in the
TRENDS
INNOVATIONS
Beer is back, according to the renowned US polling
organisation Gallup. A recent study by them shows
that beer is gaining on wine and liquor in the US as the
preferred alcoholic beverage.
World ofHeineken 39 winter 2008/2009
The poll, conducted annually since 1992, had
shown a steady increase in wine's popularity
as the favourite alcoholic beverage amongst
drinkers at the expense of beer during the
90s and 00s. In 2005, for the first time, more
drinkers reported preferring wine than beer.
Since then, the trend has been reversed, with
the latest data showing beer with an 11-point
advantage over wine. This development
can be chalked up mainly to an increase in
popularity of beer amongst consumers aged
30 to 49, of which almost half now say they
prefer beer.
Younger Legal Drinking Age* (LDA) drinkers
are still much more likely to drink beer than
wine or liquor, while wine is the preferred
beverage of older drinkers (age 50 plus).
Dan Tearno, Chief Corporate Relations Officer
for Heineken USA, says the poll confirms
that beer is still king in the US. "Despite
increasing competition from wine and spirits,
the consumption gap between beer and
other alcoholic beverages is widening." Dan
said. "As we mark the 75th anniversary of
the repeal of Prohibition in the U.S., we can,
despite the economic challenges we face,
celebrate a healthy industry for the nation's
brewers and importers."
Eric Shephard, Executive Editor for Brewers
Marketer's Insights, a leading U.S. industry
newsletter, offered, "These are indeed
better times for beer. In terms of absolute
alcohol consumed, beer definitely makes up
the lion's share. Currently 54.4 per cent of
all alcohol consumed in the US comes from
beer."
According to Eric, who has been reporting
on the beer business for 32 years, the
development is mainly a reflection of
beer's increasingly positive image. "It is
an interesting question if the larger beer
brewers and importers will be able to harness
that phenomenon, as large wine houses have
done in the past," Eric said.
www.gallup.com
Do you most often drink liquor, wine, or beer?
Based on U.S. adults who drink alcoholic beverages
Beer Wine Liquor
1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
GALLUP POLL
the legal drinking age in the US is 21 years or older. This is according to federal law.
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