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Drink at the Bar, but not at home?

michaelskis

michaelskis

Sawdust Producer
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There has been something interesting going on with alcohol sales. They have continued to fluctuate with declines over the past few years to a new record low in 2025.

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However, this situation has two sides, namely spending at bars is up, while purchasing for home consumption is down.
New data released this week by Bank of America found that drinking at bars is on the rise even as alcohol consumption is on the decline.
Alcohol spending as a share of overall expenditures sits around a roughly 40-year low, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Average spending at retail liquor, wine and beer shops continues to fall. On average, spending on alcohol to drink at home dropped by an average of 5% in 2025, according to the bank's data.
It’s a meaningful drop in a large and relatively stable consumer category. Beer, wine and liquor stores consistently generate billions of dollars per month in revenue, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
On the other side of the fight for cocktail-loving customers are bars. They saw a 4% increase in consumer spending in 2025, according to the bank.
Click to expand...
www.nbcnews.com

A tale of two beers: Spending at bars is on the rise, while retail alcohol sales are falling

Alcohol consumption overall is declining in the U.S., but some are encouraging social drinking.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com

What do you think is causing this trend? Are you more likely to consume alcohol at home or at the bar? Do you drink less now than you did in the past?
 
Consumption would be a better indicator of what is going on at the bars. Being up 4% isn't that surprising when you look at the prices that are charged for many cocktails these days. I'd be more interested in what kind of volume the distributers are moving.
 
I don't even own a TV...or drink...at home or at bars.
 
Younger generations go out less and drink less than many of us did at the same age. My 30 something says it's just too damn expensive to go out.
 
MD Planner said:
Consumption would be a better indicator of what is going on at the bars. Being up 4% isn't that surprising when you look at the prices that are charged for many cocktails these days. I'd be more interested in what kind of volume the distributers are moving.
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I was curious about that and discovered that when it comes to where alcohol is consumed:
  • ~73% at home
  • ~9% at restaurants
  • ~5% at bars
  • ~5% at parties
  • ~8% other locations
But in terms of actual volume consumption, I cannot find a good source for bar only... having said that, when group with other 'onsite consumption facilities, they have seen a slight increase (1 to 2%) over the past couple of years, but are still lower than pre-covid percentages where it was much higher.
 
kjel said:
Younger generations go out less and drink less than many of us did at the same age. My 30 something says it's just too damn expensive to go out.
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Unless you live in Buffalo and can go to Rohalls Corner where you can still get $3 genny's and $6 well shots. Sunday is vinyl night.

Home drinking is something I would like to leave in the past.
 
kjel said:
Younger generations go out less and drink less than many of us did at the same age. My 30 something says it's just too damn expensive to go out.
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This. My soon to be of age daughter doesn't like going out and would much rather hang with friends without the drinking. And it is damn expensive these days with a good cocktail running you around $15-$20 a pop plus tip.

Gone are the days of $2 you call.
 
Also, GLP-1 drugs reduce cravings. So many folks are on these now, it could explain part of the reduction.
 
I find that if I open a beer at home, I may only have 1 and sometimes not finish it. But if I am out at the brewery or the bar, I will have a couple socially. Going out is expensive... I met an old coworker for a couple drinks last Friday. I had a whiskey and a couple beers, we ordered 4 apps to sample... with tip, I got out of there at $80!
 
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