Global Alcohol Consumption Set to Decline as Ready‑to‑Drink Cocktails Surge

A new ten‑year forecast from market research firm IWSR predicts a steady drop in overall global alcohol consumption through 2031, with the decline extending into 2035. Per‑capita intake of spirits, beer and wine is expected to fall, while the volume of ready‑to‑drink (RTD) pre‑mixed cocktails is projected to rise by about 17%, reaching 1.9 billion liters in 2025.

The forecast estimates a 2 % drop in spirits between 2024‑25 and a similar decline for beer and wine, with stronger falls in major markets: China and the United States are likely to see consumption cut by roughly 20 % by 2035, Germany by 14 %, the United Kingdom by 13 % and Japan by 15 %. Per‑capita pure alcohol use is expected to fall by half a litre by 2035. Meanwhile, the number of legal‑age drinkers is projected to grow by 9 %, helping keep total volume close to 2025 levels despite the per‑person decline.

IWSR also notes a geographic shift in the alcohol market, moving from traditional regions such as North America, Europe and China toward India, South America and Africa, where per‑capita consumption is set to rise.