Alcohol sales are increasing because consumption is increasing
Photo: Alexey BULATOV
Whether happy or not. Alcohol sales are growing and, consequently, so is consumption. We are talking about January and February of this year. Analysts at Rosalkogoltabakcontrol calculated that, compared to the same period in 2023, Russians produced an average of 10% more cognac and sparkling wine. The first in sales increased by 9.3% to 23.7 million liters, and the second by 10.9% to 34.5 million liters.
Other alcoholic beverages also increased sales, but not as quickly. Vodka increased by 1.2% and grape wines by 3.7% (see “Specifically”). If we talk about general figures, sales of alcohol (not counting that sold in public catering, as well as beer, beer-based drinks, cider, poire, mead) in Russia in January-February 2024 increased by 4, 7% up to 364.9 million liters.
“Sales are growing because consumption is growing,” explained the logic of growth Vadim Drobiz, director of the Research Center for Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets. – But! January and February are insufficient periods for any analysis. January sales are made up of New Year’s sales from January 1 to 10. And they are influenced by December sales, during which sometimes the consumer buys more alcohol and sometimes less. If you were previously afraid that excise taxes would increase from January 1, you will buy before the New Year; If not, it will purchase the required amount during the holidays. Let’s see what happens next: I don’t expect a major increase in alcohol sales in 2024. True, we still do not take into account sales in new regions, the EGAIS accounting system has not yet been launched there.
According to the expert, the growth in sales of sparkling wines has not yet reached the figures of previous years.
“We are a third behind 2011, then 200 million liters of champagne and sparkling wine were produced, and 280 million liters were sold along with imports, then everything changed dramatically,” says Vadim Drobiz. – In 2012, the “wine drinks” category was created, which included sparkling wines made with technological violations (they contained little wine matter). They turned out to be between 70 and 80 million liters. Thus, the market for champagne and sparkling wines collapsed. The situation began to change in 2020, when the State increased the excise tax rates on carbonated wine drinks. Since then, sparkling wine sales have increased, but we are still far from reaching 2011 levels.
SPECIFICALLY
Alcohol sales in January-February 2024, million liters. Growth/decline for January-February 2023
Cognac: 23.7, +9.3%
Vodka: 121.2, +1.2%
Sparkling wines: 34.5, +10.9%
Grape wines: 84.3, +3.7%
Liqueur wines: 1.88, +15.3%
Spiritual beverages with an alcohol content greater than 9%: 191.4, +5.1%
Low alcohol products: 29.6, +6.8%
Drinks containing grapes with ethyl alcohol: 2.7, -0.3%
Drinks containing grapes without ethyl alcohol: 1.06, -38%
Alcoholic fruit products: 19.5, -4.9%
