As part of our ongoing tracking of the industry, the Beverage Information Group surveys our readers quarterly, collecting trends/sentiment data from distributors, on-premise and off-premise operators. Our most recent study, conducted in October 2025, found ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages continuing their roll: 35% of retail respondents and 9% of on-premise operators said that’s the category whose increase in sales was most impacting their business right now.
Twenty-four percent of retailers said that the rise of THC/ CBD-infused beverages (where legal) was also affecting their businesses. It’s no surprise, then, that a quarter of retail respondents said that they would expand shelf space for more THC/CBD drinks if they could.
RTDs also tied with THC/CBD drinks as the category generating the most buzz off-premise, followed by tequila. On-premise participants report that mocktails/alcohol-free spirits are buzziest category, followed by a tie between hard seltzers and RTDs.
The Old Fashioned was the most popular cocktail on-premise, while vodka was the most popular spirit sold at the participating stores. The percentage of respondents reporting more interest in low-/no-alcohol options rose in both sectors, from 29% in the second quarter to 36% in the third for the retailers, and from 27% to 36% for bars and restaurants.
But customers are buying less overall, according to 58% of off-premise respondents and nearly half (49%) of the on-premise. And the respondents reporting increased consumer price sensitivity rose from 38% to 41% for the on-premise, and from 36% to 52% for the off-premise.
The percentage of retailers saying that customers were spending less money or buying less-expensive brands jumped from 52% in the second quarter to 65% in the third quarter. More of the bars and restaurants (35%, up from 25% in the previous quarter) said guests were spending less money or buying less-expensive brands.
For more information about our beverage reader surveys and for pricing information about adding questions to upcoming surveys, contact Debbie Rittenberg at drittenberg@ epgacceleration.com.
Domestic beer is the category whose decrease in sales was most impacting their business right now for both off-premise (19%) and on-premise (18%) respondents. Stores are also seeing a worrying decline in sales of red wine and craft beer, while bars and restaurants said the other problem categories are craft beer, imported beer and brandy.