Alcohol consumption is common in the United States, with various types of alcoholic beverages consumed. Some of the most popular alcoholic drinks among Americans include beer, wine, spirits, and flavored alcoholic beverages. Understanding drinking trends and preferences provides insight into American culture and consumer behavior. This article examines the alcoholic beverages that are most widely consumed in America.
Beer
Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the United States. According to a Gallup poll in July 2022, beer remains America’s preferred drink of choice, with 39% of drinkers saying they most often drink beer. This is followed by wine at 31% and liquor at 28%.
The top beer brands Americans drink include:
| Brand | Brewing Company |
|---|---|
| Bud Light | Anheuser-Busch |
| Coors Light | Molson Coors Brewing Company |
| Miller Lite | MillerCoors |
| Budweiser | Anheuser-Busch |
| Michelob Ultra | Anheuser-Busch |
Light, low-calorie lagers dominate the list of top-selling domestic beers in America. Bud Light is by far the leading beer brand, with Coors Light and Miller Lite also performing well as lighter brews. Budweiser and Michelob Ultra are among the top-sellers that are full-calorie beers.
Domestic beer brands account for most beer consumption, with imported beer holding a smaller share of the market. Top import brands include Corona Extra, Heineken, and Modelo Especial.
The preference for beer spans age groups but skews more male. According to 2021 Gallup data, 51% of men say they most often drink beer compared to 28% of women. By age, beer is the preferred drink of 18-34 year-olds (46%) and 35-54 year-olds (41%), edging out wine (37% for 18-34; 35% for 35-54).
Why Do Americans Drink So Much Beer?
There are several factors that contribute to beer’s popularity in the U.S. market:
– Affordability – Beer prices are relatively low compared to wine and spirits. Major domestic brands can be purchased cheaply in bulk quantities like 30-packs.
– Refreshment – Beer is viewed as a refreshing, lighter-bodied beverage than spirits or wine, appealing for leisure occasions like backyard barbecues, sports games, and summer days.
– Versatility – The range of beer styles – from light lagers to robust IPAs – allows consumers to choose options suited to different tastes and settings.
– Consumer Habits – Drinking beer is a long-standing tradition in American culture, established through decades of marketing and appealing to sociability.
– Low Alcohol Content – Many popular beer varieties like lagers have a lower alcohol-by-volume (ABV) percentage than wines and spirits. This makes beer appealing for more casual, higher-frequency consumption.
– Gender Roles – Beer has traditionally been marketed toward male consumers in the U.S. The targeted advertising resonates with masculinity and male bonding.
Wine
Wine is the second most popular alcoholic drink in America after beer. The United States is the largest wine consuming nation in the world. Americans drank over 330 million 9-liter cases of wine in 2021. The top varieties of wine consumed in the U.S. are:
| Wine Variety | Percentage of Market Share |
|---|---|
| Chardonnay | 24% |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | 20% |
| Red Blends | 11% |
| Pinot Grigio/Gris | 9% |
| Moscato | 7% |
White wines like Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio make up over 30% of the American wine market. Red varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Blends follow behind with a combined 31% share. Moscato has emerged as a popular sweeter wine option.
California dominates the domestic wine origins, accounting for over 60% of U.S. produced wine. Other leading wine-producing states include Washington, Oregon, and New York. Imported wines have about a 30% market share in the U.S., with top importing countries being Italy, France, New Zealand, and Australia.
Wine consumption patterns reveal some demographic preferences. Women are more likely to be wine drinkers at 54%, versus 24% of men who say wine is their most consumed alcoholic drink. Wine consumption also skews higher with age – 48% of 55+ adults report drinking more wine than other alcohol.
Why Is Wine Popular in America?
There are a number of factors driving the popularity of wine in the United States:
– Health trends – Wine is perceived as a healthier alcohol option over beer and spirits. Many wines contain antioxidants like resveratrol.
– Food pairings – Wine is valued for its ability to complement and enhance the flavor of cuisine. American interest in food culture has influenced wine consumption.
– Premiumization – Demand has grown for more premium, expensive wines. High-end wine is viewed as an aspirational product.
– Education – American consumers are more knowledgeable about wine varieties and styles thanks to wine tastings, courses, and sommeliers. This drives engagement with wine.
– Travel – International travel exposes American tourists to wine regions like Tuscany, Bordeaux, and Napa. This inspires interest when they return home.
– Choice – The growth of wine producers domestically and abroad means more choices on the market to appeal to varied tastes.
Spirits
Spirits (distilled liquor) rank third behind beer and wine in popularity of alcoholic drinks in America, with 28% of drinkers saying liquor is their most consumed alcohol. But annual revenues for distilled spirits reached $35 billion in the United States in 2021, underscoring their strong commercial footprint.
The top-selling spirits in the U.S. are:
| Spirit Type | Examples | Percentage of Market Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vodka | Tito’s, Smirnoff, Grey Goose | 33% |
| Whiskey | Fireball, Jack Daniel’s, Crown Royal | 28% |
| Rum | Bacardi, Malibu, Captain Morgan | 12% |
| Tequila | Jose Cuervo, Patron, Sauza | 11% |
| Gin | Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire | 9% |
The clear leader among spirits is vodka, capturing a third of the U.S. market. Whiskey brands follow with over a quarter share of sales. White spirits like vodka, rum, tequila, and gin account for nearly 70% of liquor volumes.
While spirits trail behind beer and wine in total consumption, they generate strong sales volumes because of higher production costs and retail prices. Vodka, whiskey, rum, and tequila are commonly mixed into cocktails served at bars, restaurants, and events.
Men report a stronger preference for liquor over women (36% vs 21%). By age cohort, spirits are most popular with 35-54 year-olds (31%) and those 55+ (30%).
Why Are Spirits Consumed in America?
Some factors explaining the popularity of spirits among American drinkers:
– Cocktail culture – Creative cocktails at bars/restaurants expose Americans to new spirits in mixed drinks.
– Flavors – New flavored spirit varieties appeal to different palates, like spiced rums and cake vodka.
– Premium brands – Status spirits like Grey Goose vodka and Patron tequila are viewed as luxurious.
– Lower carb/calorie options – Many spirits like vodka and tequila are promoted as low-carb/low-calorie alcohol choices.
– Versatility – Neutral spirits like vodka mix into many types of cocktails. Whiskey neat or on the rocks provides choice.
– Associations with relaxation and fun – Spirits are linked with escapism, parties, and unwinding after work.
Flavored Alcoholic Beverages
Beyond the top categories of beer, wine, and spirits, another alcoholic drink popular with some American consumers is flavored alcoholic beverages, sometimes called alcopops. These drinks have a spirit base blended with fruit, herbal, or other flavors. Well-known examples include:
– Mike’s Hard Lemonade – flavored malt beverage with vodka and lemonade flavors
– Smirnoff Ice – vodka-based drink infused with citrus essence
– Bacardi Breezer – rum and fruit juice cocktail
– Hard seltzers like White Claw – sparkling water with alcohol and natural flavors
Flavored alcoholic drinks saw rapid growth starting in the early 2000s but consumption has leveled off in recent years. From a peak 9% share of the alcohol market in 2003, alcopops declined to around 2% market share by 2019 according to industry research group IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.
These types of flavored malt beverages and coolers are still frequently consumed at casual gatherings and parties, particularly among younger legal-aged drinkers. But craft beers, wines, and creative cocktails now dominate more drinking occasions. Flavored alcoholic beverages represent a small niche in the broader American drinking landscape.
Non-Alcoholic Beer and Wine
A newer trend that adds diversity to the US alcohol market is non-alcoholic beer and wine. These are beer and wine products with little or no alcohol content (typically under 0.5% ABV).
Reasons for the growth of non-alcoholic beer and wine drinks include:
– Health and wellness – Consumers seeking to cut back alcohol and reduce calories gravitate to non-alcoholic options.
– Inclusivity – Allows people who don’t drink to participate in social occasions with an alcohol-like beverage.
– Moderation – Provides an option for drinkers to alternate with alcoholic drinks when they want to moderate intake.
– Diversity – Expands choice for different tastes and circumstances without alcohol.
Major beer companies like Heineken, Stella Artois, and Budweiser have released non-alcoholic beer versions. There are also craft breweries focused entirely on non-alcoholic beer like Athletic Brewing Company.
For non-alcoholic wine, Fre Wines and Drty make sparkling wines, while brands like Seedlip and Ritual Zero Proof mimic the taste of wines and spirits without alcohol.
While still a niche category, non-alcoholic beer and wine sales are rising rapidly in America. This points to changing attitudes about social drinking and interest in unique product choices.
Conclusion
Beer retains its position as the alcoholic beverage consumed most by Americans, led by light lager brands like Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite. Wine follows behind as the second most popular alcohol choice, with varieties like Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Pinot Grigio topping the market. Vodka and whiskey are the spirits of choice, frequently mixed into cocktails. Consumer habits, demographics, social engagements, and marketing all contribute to America’s thirst for these alcoholic drinks. But the rise of more moderate options like non-alcoholic beer and wine reveal shifting perspectives on drinking in American culture.