2026
9
UK Alcoholic Drinks Review: 2026
2026-05-20T12:01:10+00:00
REP982BDC61_24EA_41BE_ABDC_6124EA11BE33
2195
193501
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Report
en_GB
Offering alcoholic drinks self-serve options will help on-trade operators to drive sales, particularly if they call out the benefits to consumers, such as reduced wait times. Self-serve options for alcoholic…
UK
Alcoholic Drinks
simple

UK Alcoholic Drinks Review: 2026

"A focus on at-home occasions is key to driving sales in 2026. Addressing ultra-processed perceptions is needed to support long-term sales."

Alice Baker, Food and Drink Analyst

Alice Baker, Food and Drink Analyst

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for alcoholic drinks
    • Opportunities
    • Elevate at-home occasions to drive sales in 2026
    • Highlight local support and offer self-serve formats to boost on-trade sales
    • Emphasize tradition and ingredients to combat ultra-processed image
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Market factors
    • Weak consumer confidence will hinder alcohol sales in 2026
    • Various factors will push up alcohol prices in 2026-31
    • Decline in pub numbers continues in 2025
    • Widespread alcohol moderation and healthy eating focus are key barriers
    • Ageing population will hinder some alcoholic drinks while benefiting others
    • Graph 1: trends in the age structure of the UK population, 2020-25 and 2025-30
    • Market size
    • Market size and forecast of alcoholic drinks
    • Graph 2: market value forecast for alcoholic drinks, 2019-30
    • Rising values and falling volume sales projected for 2025-30
    • Volume sales fall faster in the on- than off-trade in 2025
    • Graph 3: value sales of alcoholic drinks, by on- and off-trade, 2023-25
    • Beer leads the category; all segments bar RTDs lose volumes in 2025
    • Graph 4: total value sales of alcoholic drinks, by segment, 2023-25
    • Leading beer brands lose sales in 2025-26 as shoppers trade up and down
    • Graph 5: retail value sales of alcoholic drinks, by top 10 brands, 2023/24-2025/26
    • Mixed results for leading alcohol brands in 2025-26
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Elevate everyday at-home occasions to drive alcoholic drinks sales
    • More consumers are drinking dark and white spirits and ale/bitter/stout since 2025
    • Graph 6: consumption of alcoholic drinks in the last three months, by type, 2025 and 2026
    • Continued income squeeze will affect some drinks more than others
    • Graph 7: consumption of alcoholic drinks in the last three months by type, by how people describe their household finances, 2026
    • Beer and wine are equally popular for drinking at-home
    • Being seen as relaxing and refreshing is key for ‘ordinary’ at-home occasions
    • Offer seasonal flavours and branded glasses to elevate the at-home drinking experience
    • At-home social occasions offer good opportunities
    • Use special packaging designs to boost appeal for seasonal occasions
    • Emphasise localism and explore self-serve options to boost on-trade sales
    • Many people associate pubs with the local community
    • Highlight support for local brands and talent
    • ‘Support your local pub’ messaging is crucial for beer brands
    • Self-serve options in pubs appeal widely
    • Drive experimentation with self-service bars
    • Minimal processing, ingredient provenance and low-alcohol support usage
    • Four in 10 see alcoholic drinks as ultra-processed
    • Perceptions of alcoholic drinks as ultra-processed are strongest among under-35s
    • Emphasise ‘real’ ingredients and their origins
    • Prove lower-ABV options’ clean-label credentials
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Low-/no-alcohol alternatives continue to be in demand
    • Drive curiosity with fruity and sweet treat flavours
    • Celebrity and TV tie-in launches continue
    • Competition heats up in RTDs
    • Social connections and unconventionality are among key themes in alcohol advertising in 2025
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market size & forecast – volumes
    • Graph 8: market volume forecast for alcoholic drinks, 2019-30
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals – values
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals – volumes
    • Market factors – retail price inflation for alcoholic drinks
    • Graph 9: RPI inflation for beer, wine & spirits and all items, 2021-25
    • Channels to market – values
    • Channels to market – volumes
    • Market segmentation
    • Market share – values
    • Market share – volumes
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • UK generation groups
    • Abbreviations

UK Alcoholic Drinks Industry – Trends and Insights

  • Offering alcoholic drinks self-serve options will help on-trade operators to drive sales, particularly if they call out the benefits to consumers, such as reduced wait times. Self-serve options for alcoholic drinks in pubs/bars appeal to 43% of category drinkers/buyers (72% of 18-34s).
  • Continued pressure on household incomes drove down sales of alcoholic drinks in 2025 and will continue to do so in 2026. This makes it crucial for operators to engage with alcohol moderation trend – often driven by saving money – in the short term as well as to shore up their long-term outlook. Addressing perceptions of alcoholic drinks as ultra-processed is also essential for the latter.
  • A focus on at-home occasions, including ‘ordinary’ occasions as well as social and celebratory ones, is key for brands to drive sales in 2026 while financial constraints continue to curb out-of-home socializing.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • The impact of the income squeeze on value and volume sales of alcoholic drinks in the on- and off-trade in 2025-26
  • Purchasing of different types of alcoholic drinks for at-home occasions, including both ‘ordinary’ and special occasions
  • Opportunities to support sales of alcoholic drinks through the on-trade
  • Perceptions of alcoholic drinks as ultra-processed, and the potential effect of this on sales
  • Trends in launch activity in alcoholic drinks
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