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Report
en_GB
Moderation continues to shape spirit consumption, with Germany's spirit market shrinking in volume and value in 2025. Even as economic conditions stabilise and on-trade shows signs of recovery, cautious financial…
Germany
Spirits and RTD
simple
Germany Spirits Market Report 2026
"To offset declining volumes, spirit brands must pivot towards permissibility, leveraging low-ABV options, smaller formats and casual positioning. Flavour-led innovation plays a key role in maintaining accessibility and trial."
Moderation continues to shape spirit consumption, with Germany’s spirit market shrinking in volume and value in 2025. Even as economic conditions stabilise and on-trade shows signs of recovery, cautious financial confidence and budget pressure are driving consumers towards private label and mid-range brands. With only 35% of spirit drinkers viewing spirits as classy, traditional luxury cues are losing traction, forcing brands to prove value through production, provenance and local credibility.
Taste remains a key driver of choice, but preferences are fragmented. Younger drinkers favour fruit-forward, lighter profiles, while neat spirits polarise Germans on taste. Rising sugar concerns also push consumers towards lighter mixers, requiring spirits to deliver flavour more directly. This is accelerating interest in fruit-led and modernised local styles, such as fruit brandies.
However, rising abstention and Germany’s ageing population point to continued long-term volume pressure, raising the stakes for brands that fail to adapt. As a result, the clearest opportunity lies in lower-ABV and smaller formats that make spirits feel more permissible and fit casual, inclusive occasions.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Market drivers for spirits, including broader shifts in flavour trends, alcohol moderation, and consumer financial confidence
Market size, forecast and segmentation of spirits, with volume and value sales under pressure
Usage of spirits, exploring usage occasions and locations
Product features that interest consumers, focusing on added novelty and ethical factors
Attitudes and behaviours towards spirits, discussing quality indicators in relation to flavour profiles
Trends in launch activity and opportunities for further innovation in the spirits industry
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for spirits
Opportunities
Make spirits permissible for casual consumption
Brighten flavour appeal
Redefine enjoyment for the modern consumer
THE MARKET
Snapshot – market size and forecast
Consumers and the economic outlook
Graph 1: CPI of selected alcoholic drinks, by segment, 2020-25
Increasingly product-literate Germans are hungry for information
Younger Germans break traditions
Alcohol moderation turns to abstinence
Graph 2: limitation/reduction of the amount of alcohol drunk in the last 12 months, by generation, 2024 vs 2025
Germans are in need of ‘Feierabend’
Market size and forecast
Functionality-driven Germans are drinking less
Graph 3: retail value sales of spirits, 2020-25
Value sales are declining
Graph 4: retail market value forecast for spirits, 2019-30
Volumes sales continue their slip
Graph 5: retail market volume forecast for spirits, 2019-30
Slide in retail value of all Spirits
Graph 6: retail value sales of spirits, by segment, 2024-25
Spirits are in need of modern novelty appeal
Private label gains on big players
Graph 7: company shares of retail value sales, in %, 2024-25
THE CONSUMER
How age and gender divide drinking habits
Spirit drinking follows the age curve
Gen X is shying away from spirits
Create a connection for uninspired women
Sugar concerns affect mixed drinks as neat consumption prevails
Neat drinks beat long drinks
Graph 8: ways of consuming white or dark spirits, by type of spirit, 2026
Long drinks go skinny
Fruit brandies go mixed
Graph 9: ways of consuming fruit brandies/spirits, 2024 vs 2026
Spirits need a flavour makeover
Split opinions on taste
Old is gold
Mix up the mash
Trust the process to keep spirits exciting
Processing is a quality indicator for spirits
Hard kombucha opens up possibilities
Raise the bar on sustainability
Provenance can be premiumised
Unlocking casual occasions
Spirit drinkers stick to home comforts
Serve spirits with meals
Stir up cocktail knowledge
Graph 10: type of drinks spirits where consumed as, by location of spirits consumption, 2026
Fuel the party
Be part of the small moments
Botanical spirits bloom in the wellness wave
Spirits are missing the fun factor
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Whiskey soars whilst vodka slips…
Graph 11: launch activity of spirits, by type, 2020-25
…and bold players hit the shelves
Gin pays homage
A fruity rejuvenation
Don’t miss out on moderation
Graph 12: unit pack size of spirit launches, 2020-25
Graph 13: ABV content of spirit launches, 2020-25
Jägermeister grabs the deer by the horns
APPENDIX
The market
Forecast methodology
Forecast methodology – fan chart
Market forecast and prediction intervals – value
Market forecast and prediction intervals – volume
Market size of spirits, by segment – value
Market size of spirits, by segment – volume
Company shares – value
Company shares – volume
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology – EMEA
Repertoire analysis methodology
Germany, generation groups
Other data source methodologies
Mintel Spark
Abbreviations
A note on language – Germany
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