One Thing Covid Can’t Stop: Alcohol Sales
A welcome companion during lockdowns, booze has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
The combination of travel bans, lockdowns, school closures, and canceled family gatherings brought on by the global pandemic was enough to drive a person to drink. And with bars, restaurants, and sporting venues often closed or restricted, consumers had to find new ways to get one. Off-premise sales of alcohol soared after March 2020, and the trend is expected to continue. “It’s more important than ever for food and beverage operators to meet customers wherever they feel the most comfortable—whether that’s curbside, in-store, or via delivery,” says Bryan Solar, head of restaurants at payments processor Square. One surprising area of growth: products with no buzz. At online liquor retailer Drizly, nonalcoholic spirits’ share of sales grew more than 600% from 2020 to 2021.