DISCUS: Spirits’ Share Growth Continues, Tariffs A Threat To Progress
February 12, 2025The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) reported that spirits volumes in the U.S. grew 1.1% to 312.2 million cases in 2024, while supplier sales by value dropped 1.1% to $37.2 billion. Spirits market share for 2024 was 42.2%, with the overall category maintaining its share lead over other beverage alcohol segments for the third year in a row. Spirits have gained 13 points of market share in the last 25 years, DISCUS noted.
On a category level, vodka sales were flat at $7.2 billion; Tequila/mezcal sales continued their upward trend, growing 2.9% to $6.7 billion; American whiskey sales declined 1.8% to $5.2 billion; and spirits-based RTDs and pre-mixed cocktails surged 16.5% to $3.3 billion.
Looking ahead, DISCUS sees the threat of tariffs as a serious obstacle for the spirits industry, in particular if the EU’s tariff on American whiskey returns as currently scheduled on April 1. “Our exports have rebounded to record highs (since those tariffs were suspended),” said DISCUS president and CEO Chris Swonger. “The reimposition of these tariffs at a 50% rate would gut this growth and do irreparable harm to distillers large and small,” he said. “It would be a catastrophic blow that will force many distillers out of our largest export market.”
With beating back tariffs among the chief priorities for DISCUS in 2025, the wider alcohol industry is facing other regulatory hurdles as well. This year, DISCUS says it will also fight proposed changes to the U.S.’s guidelines for alcohol consumption and work to ensure “the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are based on the preponderance of scientific evidence.”—Shane English
Subscribe to Shanken News Daily’s Email Newsletter, delivered to your inbox each morning.
