Iowa Liquor Sales Hit Record High in 2020
So much of what we ve experienced in 2020 has many of us saying I need a drink , often, and with inconsistency and confusion prevailing about where we can go to have one and when, it s much simpler (and many would argue, safer) this year to just BYOB and stay home, as indicated by new numbers from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.
They report, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, that liquor sales totaled $367.3 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30, an increase of 8.2 percent over the previous fiscal year. The even bigger news is that with the current fiscal year that began on July 1, projections are even higher, no doubt due in part to the arrival of the celebratory (or perhaps dreaded) time we call the holidays . It s good for Iowa s bottom line to have us cooped up with nowhere else to indulge, as the booze industry is generating $133 million in revenue for the state.
12/11/20
Between intermittent bar closures and people spending more time at home, the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be having an effect on Iowans’ drinking habits, including a record-high in hard liquor sales.
According to the annual report released by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division on Friday, purchases of beer and wine dropped statewide in Fiscal Year 2020. Beer sales were down 29.8%, while wine consumption decreased 30.9% from the previous year.
However, sales of hard liquor are on the rise. Sales of brandy have increased 23.6%, tequila increased 10.9%, whiskey is up 8.7%, and vodka rose 1.2%. Overall sales of hard liquor were up 8.1% to $367.3 million…a new state record.
Iowa Liquor Sales Hit Record High in 2020
So much of what we ve experienced in 2020 has many of us saying I need a drink , often, and with inconsistency and confusion prevailing about where we can go to have one and when, it s much simpler (and many would argue, safer) this year to just BYOB and stay home, as indicated by new numbers from the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.
They report, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, that liquor sales totaled $367.3 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30, an increase of 8.2 percent over the previous fiscal year. The even bigger news is that with the current fiscal year that began on July 1, projections are even higher, no doubt due in part to the arrival of the celebratory (or perhaps dreaded) time we call the holidays . It s good for Iowa s bottom line to have us cooped up with nowhere else to indulge, as the booze industry is generating $133 million in revenue for the state.
However, liquor sales increased by nearly 190,000 gallons in FY2020, with more Iowans preferring whiskey overall.
Iowans spent more on whiskey than other spirits, spending more than $120 million in FY2020. Vodka came in second, but it only brought in $74 million.
Iowans purchased more Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey than any other spirit. More than 400,000 gallons were sold, according to the report.
Tito s Handmade Vodka came in second with more than 289,000 gallons sold.
Overall, more than six million gallons of spirits were sold from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.
A line graph shows liquor sales went up when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March. The ABD reported more than $31 million in sales that month. June brought in even more dough. Iowans spent more than $42 million that month alone.