Spirits Sales Strengthen in Control States in June

Control states posted solid gains in June, benefiting from additional selling days across several markets, National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association reports.

Spirits sales strengthened, with 9-liter volume increasing 4.8% and sales rising 3.2%, resulting in a -1.6% price mix. Overall, control states experienced six additional selling days during the month, including two more selling days in Michigan and one additional selling day each in Alabama, Montana, North Carolina, and Utah. Despite June's positive performance, rolling 12-month spirits results remained negative, with 9-liter volume down 0.5% and sales down 2.5%, producing a 2% price mix.

Category performance was broadly positive. Cocktails, led by canned ready-to-drink (RTD) products, continued to be the primary growth driver, with 9L volume increasing 33.7% and sales rising 35.6%. Cordials, Domestic Whiskey, Irish, Tequila, and Vodka also reported gains. Tequila posted growth in every control state except Mississippi. Scotch remained challenged, with 9L volume declining 3%.

Wine sales showed modest improvement in June, with 9-liter volume increasing 0.1% and sales rising 0.8%, yielding a positive price mix of 0.7%. Wine performance benefited from the six additional selling days and the presence of only four Sundays during the month. On a rolling 12-month basis, however, wine trends remained negative, with 9-liter volume declining 4.2% and sales decreasing 2.7%, partially offset by a positive 1.5% price mix.

The on-premise channel delivered strong spirits results in June, with 9-liter volume increasing 6.2% and sales rising 4.0%. All but one control state reported growth during the month. Rolling 12-month on-premise spirits performance was mixed, with 9-liter volume up 0.8% but dollar volume down 1.3%, resulting in a 2.1% price mix.

On-premise wine results were mixed in June. Volume was flat year over year, while sales increased 2.6%, generating a positive price mix of 2.6%. Longer-term trends remained challenging, with rolling 12-month 9L volume declining 4.1% and sales decreasing 2.7%, partially offset by a positive 1.4% price mix.