Global alcohol consumption will decline through 2031, after which it will begin to recover. By 2035, volumes will return to 2025 levels. Wine sales will drop by 14%, spirits by 2%, while ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails will grow by 17%. This is reported by Dengi.ua with reference to IWSR.
How global alcohol consumption will change by 2035
IWSR, a leading analytics firm in the alcohol industry, forecasts a decline in global consumption through 2031.
Overall market trends:
- through 2031 - continued decline;
- by 2035 - volumes will return to 2025 levels;
- the total decline over 10 years will be just 1%.
Stabilization will be achieved thanks to two key factors:
- rebalancing of the global market;
- growth in the adult drinking-age population.
Which alcoholic beverages will decline, and which will grow by 2035
The wine industry faces the most concerning outlook.
Sales forecast for individual categories from 2025 to 2035:
- wine: a 14% decline;
- spirits: a 2% decline;
- beer: a 1% decline;
- ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails: 17% growth.
Alcohol Consumption will Plummet in China, the U.S., and Europe
By 2035, major alcohol markets will shrink significantly.
Projected decline in the number of alcohol servings in major countries:
- China: -19%;
- U.S.: -18%;
- Japan: -15%;
- Germany: -14%;
- United Kingdom: -13%.
Why India Will Become the World’s Second-Largest Alcohol Market
The global market will rebalance due to rising consumption in developing countries.
Projected growth in the number of alcohol servings:
- India: +38%;
- Colombia: +26%;
- Vietnam: +15%;
- Mexico: +13%.
Based on these figures, India will overtake the U.S. by 2032 - and become the world’s second-largest alcohol market.
How Much Alcohol did the World Consume in 2025?
IWSR also confirmed the data for 2025. Total global alcohol consumption fell by 2% compared to 2024.
Sales trends by category:
- wine: -5%;
- spirits: -3%;
- beer: -2%;
- ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails: +3%.
Of the 160 markets analyzed:
- 66 markets showed growth;
- 83 markets declined;
- 12 markets remained unchanged.
