{"id":1122,"date":"2026-10-26T15:11:01","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T07:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kijangmas.com\/blog\/?p=1122"},"modified":"2026-10-26T15:11:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T07:11:01","slug":"what-are-the-consumer-preferences-for-alcohol-497b-50b3ff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.kijangmas.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/26\/what-are-the-consumer-preferences-for-alcohol-497b-50b3ff\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the consumer preferences for alcohol?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever stood behind the counter of my family\u2019s alcohol supply warehouse, watching dozens of order pickers restock shelves for small bars, craft breweries, and boutique liquor stores across the region, you know that consumer preferences for alcohol aren\u2019t just trends\u2014they\u2019re quiet, evolving conversations playing out in every bottle, can, and keg that leaves our loading dock. For years, I\u2019ve watched these preferences shift, not just as a supplier, but as someone who\u2019s spent weekends chatting with regulars at my cousin\u2019s neighborhood tavern, listening to what makes them reach for one product over another. This isn\u2019t just guesswork, either; over the past decade, we\u2019ve compiled order data, surveyed hundreds of clients, and cross-referenced that with market research to get a clear picture of what today\u2019s drinkers actually want. Let\u2019s break down what\u2019s driving these choices, what\u2019s sticking around, and what\u2019s next for anyone in the alcohol game. Alcohols<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, and most noticeably, is the obsession with quality and transparency. A decade ago, consumers might have grabbed the cheapest six-pack at the gas station or a bottle of gin from the well-stocked shelf without paying much attention to where it came from. Now? They ask questions. They want to know the farm where the barley was grown, the water source used in distillation, even how the grapes were tended. Last year, we saw a 42% jump in orders for small-batch craft spirits from family-owned distilleries, and that\u2019s not random. Market research from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) confirms that 68% of adult drinkers say they\u2019d pay 10-15% more for alcohol that clearly lists its origin and production practices on the label. This shift isn\u2019t just about snobbery\u2014it\u2019s about trust. After decades of big alcohol brands cutting corners on ingredients and hiding behind vague marketing language, drinkers want to know exactly what they\u2019re putting in their glass. For example, when we started carrying a line of organic rye whiskey from a farm in central Wisconsin, where the distillers post weekly updates on their social media about harvesting schedules, the first shipment sold out in three days. Our wholesale clients told us their customers specifically asked for it because the label \u201chad a story\u201d and they could verify it was free of artificial additives. Even wine drinkers, once loyal to big-name imported brands, are now leaning into local and sustainable vineyards; our orders for estate-grown wines from regional vineyards have gone up 37% since 2021, as drinkers prioritize supporting small businesses and reducing their carbon footprint by cutting down on long-haul shipping.<\/p>\n

Next, accessibility and versatility have replaced the rigid \u201cbrand loyalty\u201d of past generations. My dad used to swear that a customer would drink the same beer every Friday night for 20 years, but that\u2019s rarely the case anymore. Today\u2019s drinkers want alcohol that fits into every part of their life, whether they\u2019re grabbing a drink after work, hosting a backyard barbecue, or sipping something light with brunch. Ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages have exploded in the past four years; our RTD order volume has jumped 120% since 2020, and that\u2019s because these products check so many boxes. They\u2019re pre-portioned, easy to transport, and come in flavors that don\u2019t feel \u201ctypical\u201d of alcohol\u2014think sparkling hard seltzers infused with mango or hibiscus, or low-alcohol wine spritzes. But it\u2019s not just RTDs; even core products are evolving to be more versatile. For example, consumers are increasingly asking for dry, crisp white wines that work both as a sipping wine and a mixer for cocktails, rather than the sweet, heavy whites that were popular in the 2000s. Beer drinkers, too, are moving away from only lagers to try session IPAs (higher flavor, lower alcohol) and non-alcoholic beers, because they want options that don\u2019t require committing to a full drink or a hangover. What\u2019s surprising is that this versatility isn\u2019t just for younger drinkers, either; our data shows that consumers aged 35-44 are the fastest-growing group for RTDs, as they balance busy work and family life and want easy, low-fuss options for casual gatherings. That\u2019s a big shift from when RTDs were seen as a \u201cyoung person\u2019s\u201d product\u2014now, they\u2019re a go-to for anyone who wants convenience without sacrificing taste.<\/p>\n

Another key preference is the growing demand for low- and no-alcohol (LNA) options, a trend that accelerated during the pandemic and shows no signs of slowing down. When the world locked down in 2020, many people re-evaluated their relationship with alcohol: some cut back, some swapped wine for non-alcoholic sparkling drinks, and many started exploring LNA alternatives that tasted like \u201creal alcohol\u201d without the buzz. Last year, LNA product sales in the U.S. hit $3.4 billion, according to the IWSR Drinks Record, and we\u2019ve seen our orders for LNA spirits, wines, and beers increase by 150% in just two years. What\u2019s driving this isn\u2019t just health consciousness\u2014though that plays a part. It\u2019s about choice. Drinkers don\u2019t want to feel like they have to settle for a soda when they\u2019re with friends or at a social event; they want an alternative that feels like a proper alcoholic beverage, even if it has 0.0% ABV. We\u2019ve worked with several small LNA distilleries to carry their products, and our clients report that their customers often pick these options first, especially at daytime events like brunches or outdoor weddings, where drinking alcohol isn\u2019t the only goal. Even among dedicated drinkers, LNA options have become a staple: 52% of adult drinkers say they order at least one LNA drink per month, per a 2023 NielsenIQ survey, so it\u2019s no longer a niche product\u2014it\u2019s a mainstream expectation. That\u2019s something every supplier needs to pay attention to; if you don\u2019t carry LNA options, you\u2019re leaving a lot of money on the table, and you\u2019re not meeting what consumers actually want.<\/p>\n

Cultural and flavor diversity is also reshaping consumer preferences in big ways, especially as the U.S. population becomes more racially and ethnically diverse. Traditional \u201ccore\u201d alcohol categories\u2014like vodka, standard beer, and Cabernet Sauvignon\u2014are still popular, but there\u2019s a growing appetite for flavors and products from around the world, as well as products that reflect the heritage of different communities. For example, tequila and mezcal sales have jumped 85% since 2018, per DISCUS, and our orders for small-batch mezcal from Oaxaca have increased by 200% in that same time. That\u2019s not just a fad; younger consumers, in particular, are drawn to the bold, unique flavors of these spirits, as well as the cultural context that comes with them. We\u2019ve also seen a big rise in interest in Asian-inspired alcohols: soju, baijiu, and rice wine, which are being used in cocktails and even as sipping drinks. Our clients tell us that their customers love these products because they\u2019re different from what\u2019s sold at big chain liquor stores, and they add depth to cocktails or pair perfectly with ethnic cuisines. Wine drinkers, too, are expanding their palates beyond the classic French and Italian wines; orders for wines from South Africa, Argentina, and even small vineyards in the Middle East have gone up steadily over the past five years. This trend is about more than just trying new things\u2014it\u2019s about representation. Consumers want to see alcohol that reflects their own cultural backgrounds, as well as products that introduce them to new cultures in a respectful, authentic way. When we started carrying a line of Korean soju infused with green grape and pear, developed by a Korean-American distiller, we sold out of the first shipment in two weeks, because it felt like a product made by someone who understood the local market, not just a big brand importing a generic product.<\/p>\n

Of course, no discussion of consumer preferences would be complete without talking about health and wellness, which has become a top priority for alcohol drinkers over the past decade. It\u2019s not just about LNA options anymore; it\u2019s about every part of the product, from the number of calories to the ingredients. Consumers are now looking for alcohol that\u2019s low in sugar, low in carbs, and free of artificial sweeteners and additives. For example, dry wines (low residual sugar) have outsweet wines in sales for the first time in 2022, per the Wine Institute, and our orders for dry, low-sugar wines have increased by 60% since 2020. Beer drinkers are also leaning into low-carb, low-sugar options; our orders for craft light beer have gone up 45% in two years, as opposed to traditional mass-market light beers that often use artificial additives to cut calories. Spirits, too, are evolving: consumers are now asking for vodka made from potatoes instead of grains, whiskey aged in smaller barrels for a lighter flavor, and spirits with no added sugars or artificial colors. This ties back to the transparency trend we talked about earlier; if a product\u2019s label lists \u201cnatural flavors\u201d instead of \u201cartificial caramel color,\u201d consumers are more likely to choose it. What\u2019s interesting is that this wellness trend isn\u2019t just for people who count calories or follow a strict diet; it\u2019s for casual drinkers who want to feel good about what they\u2019re consuming, even when they\u2019re indulging. A 2023 survey by the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (ABCA) found that 71% of adult drinkers say they check the nutrition facts on an alcohol label before buying it, up from just 38% in 2015. That\u2019s a huge shift, and it\u2019s changed what products we prioritize when sourcing new items for our clients.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about what this means for someone in the alcohol industry\u2014whether you\u2019re a bar owner, a liquor store manager, or a small business looking to stock the right products. The days of relying on brand recognition or low prices to drive sales are over. Today\u2019s consumers want three things: products that are transparent, versatile, and aligned with their values (whether that\u2019s sustainability, wellness, or cultural authenticity). As a supplier, I\u2019ve had to adapt our business to meet these needs, and it\u2019s paid off. We don\u2019t just carry the big-name brands everyone\u2019s heard of; we spend time finding small, family-owned producers who share our commitment to quality and transparency. We\u2019ve built relationships with distilleries and vineyards across the country, so we can source products that have a clear story and meet the demand for diverse, unique flavors. We\u2019ve also expanded our LNA inventory to include a wide range of options, from non-alcoholic wine to craft non-alcoholic spirits, because we know that\u2019s what our clients\u2019 customers want.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a business owner looking to stock alcohol that will actually sell, the key is to listen to your customers. Ask them what they want, don\u2019t just assume based on past trends. For example, when we started working with a new craft brewery in our area, we surveyed their regulars and found that they were asking for more low-ABV and LNA options, so we worked with the brewery to develop a custom low-ABV IPA that we now stock exclusively for them. It\u2019s become their top-selling product in just six months. Another thing to remember is that consumer preferences aren\u2019t static; they change as society changes, as new products hit the market, and as people\u2019s priorities shift. Five years ago, we barely carried any LNA products; now, they make up 15% of our total order volume. Five years from now, there will be new trends, new flavors, and new priorities that will shape what consumers want. The businesses that will succeed are the ones that are flexible, that listen, and that are willing to adapt to meet those changing needs.<\/p>\n

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At the end of the day, alcohol is more than just a product\u2014it\u2019s part of how people connect, celebrate, and unwind. The consumer preferences we see today are a reflection of what people want from that experience: they want to trust that the product is good, that it fits into their life, that it aligns with their values, and that it tastes great. As a supplier, my job is to make sure my clients have access to those products, whether they\u2019re ordering for a small neighborhood bar, a large restaurant chain, or a boutique liquor store. If you\u2019re a business owner looking to partner with a supplier that understands these evolving consumer preferences, that sources high-quality, transparent products, and that\u2019s committed to helping you succeed, we\u2019d love to connect. Let\u2019s sit down, talk about your customers\u2019 needs, and figure out how we can work together to stock the products that will keep your customers coming back.<\/p>\n

Alcohols<\/a> References
\nDistilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). (2023). 2023 U.S. Spirits Industry Survey: Consumer Trends and Preferences.
\nIWSR Drinks Record. (2024). Global Low- and No-Alcohol Beverage Sales Report.
\nNielsenIQ. (2023). Alcohol Consumption Trends in the U.S.: Shifting Priorities for Adult Drinkers.
\nWine Institute. (2022). U.S. Wine Market Trends: Dry Wines and Consumer Palate Evolution.
\nNational Alcohol Beverage Control Association (ABCA). (2023). Consumer Health and Wellness Attitudes Toward Alcohol Products.<\/p>\n

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Qingdao Jinforest Chem Tech Co., Ltd.<\/a>
Qingdao Jinforest Chem Tech Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional alcohols manufacturers and suppliers in China. With abundant experience, we warmly welcome you to wholesale high quality alcohols at competitive price from our factory. If you have any enquiry about quotation, please feel free to email us.
Address: Huangdao District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province (3002, Unit 1, Block B, No.226 Changjiang Middle Road, Former Development Zone)
E-mail: cecilia@kozorigin.com
WebSite: https:\/\/www.jinforestchem.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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