From London gin palaces to Scottish glens, the UK's spirits industry is not just surviving but thriving as a booming economic powerhouse, pouring record-setting volumes onto the world stage.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, UK spirits production reached 1,856 million litres, a 4.7% increase from 2021 driven by whisky output
- Scotch whisky distilleries produced 1,345 million litres of pure alcohol in 2022, up 12% year-on-year
- There were 142 operational malt whisky distilleries in Scotland as of 2023
- UK total spirits market value hit £12.5 billion in 2022, up 8.3% YoY
- Off-trade spirits sales volume was 1,234 million litres in 2022
- On-trade spirits revenue reached £5.6 billion in 2023, recovering 15% post-COVID
- Adult per capita spirits consumption was 5.6 litres pure alcohol in 2022
- 25% of UK adults consumed spirits weekly in 2023 survey
- Gin remains top spirit with 42% consumer preference in 2022
- UK exported £6.1 billion worth of spirits in 2022, led by Scotch whisky
- Scotch whisky exports volume 1.66 billion litres in 2022, up 15%
- USA top destination for UK spirits exports at £1.7 billion value 2022
- Whisky industry contributed £5.3 billion GVA to UK economy 2022
- Spirits sector employed 48,000 directly in UK 2023
- Tax revenue from spirits totalled £4.2 billion in 2022 incl VAT/duty
The UK spirits industry is experiencing robust growth in production, sales, and exports.
Consumer Consumption Trends
- Adult per capita spirits consumption was 5.6 litres pure alcohol in 2022
- 25% of UK adults consumed spirits weekly in 2023 survey
- Gin remains top spirit with 42% consumer preference in 2022
- Millennials (25-40) account for 55% of premium spirits volume in 2023
- Women represent 48% of gin drinkers, up from 35% in 2015
- Average consumption occasion: 2.8 units per spirits drinker session 2022
- No/low alcohol spirits tried by 28% of consumers in 2023
- Home consumption of spirits rose to 62% of total occasions in 2022
- 35-54 age group highest volume consumers at 7.2 litres/capita/year
- Cocktail culture drives 40% of spirits consumption in urban areas 2023
- Regional disparity: Scotland 8.1 litres/capita vs England 4.9 in 2022
- Social media influence on spirits trials: 52% Gen Z in 2023
- Frequency: 18% daily spirits consumers in 2022 survey
- Flavoured spirits preference among 18-24s at 65% in 2023
- Health-conscious consumers cut spirits intake by 12% avg 2022-2023
- At-home mixology kits boosted personal consumption 25% in 2022
- Ethnic minorities spirits consumption 20% below average in 2023
- Peak consumption month December at 1.45x annual average 2022
- Loyalty to favourite spirit: 72% consumers in 2023 poll
- ABV preference: 37.5-40% most popular at 68% share 2022
- Urban vs rural: cities 6.2 litres/capita vs 4.1 rural 2022
- Post-COVID binge occasions down 18% in 2023
- Celebrity-endorsed spirits consumed by 15% millennials 2022
- Sustainable spirits preferred by 41% consumers in 2023
- Portion size avg 35ml per serve, 55% compliance 2022
- Gen Z non-drinkers of spirits 32% in 2023
- Paired with food: 48% spirits occasions in 2022
Consumer Consumption Trends Interpretation
Despite our national pastime of sipping nearly a fistful of gin per week—often shaken, not stirred, at home by a growing legion of millennial and female mixologists—we're also increasingly nursing a low-proof, sustainability-conscious, and occasionally salad-paired drink, proving the British spirit is both enduring and happily conflicted.
Exports and Imports
- UK exported £6.1 billion worth of spirits in 2022, led by Scotch whisky
- Scotch whisky exports volume 1.66 billion litres in 2022, up 15%
- USA top destination for UK spirits exports at £1.7 billion value 2022
- France imported 112 million litres of UK spirits in 2022
- Gin exports from UK reached 78 million litres in 2022, value £800 million
- Imports of vodka to UK totalled 245 million litres in 2022
- EU countries took 45% of UK spirits exports by value in 2023
- US tariffs impacted Scotch exports by £200 million loss in 2022
- Singapore free trade deal boosted spirits exports 22% to £150 million 2022
- Rum imports to UK 67 million litres, mainly from Caribbean 2022
- Australia imported £320 million UK spirits in 2022, up 10%
- China market for UK gin exports grew 30% to £45 million 2023
- Total spirits imports value £3.4 billion to UK in 2022
- Duty on imported spirits generated £2.8 billion revenue 2022
- Brazil emerged as top South American market, £80 million UK spirits 2022
- Tequila imports to UK surged 60% to 12 million litres 2022
- Post-Brexit border delays cost exporters £150 million in 2022
- India tariff reductions lifted Scotch exports 18% to £120 million 2023
- Duty-free exports 210 million litres from UK airports 2022
- Japan imported 45 million litres Scotch, value £250 million 2022
- Whisky 90% of UK spirits export value at £5.5 billion 2022
- Emerging Africa exports up 25% to £60 million for UK spirits 2023
- Cognac imports to UK 18 million litres, £400 million value 2022
- UK spirits trade surplus £2.7 billion in 2022
- Mexico agave spirits imports doubled to 8.5 million litres 2023
Exports and Imports Interpretation
While Scotch whisky heroically floats the UK's £6.1 billion spirits export boat, the nation's own growing thirst for imported vodka, tequila, and cognac reveals a delightful, and highly taxable, hypocrisy at the bar.
Industry Economics and Employment
- Whisky industry contributed £5.3 billion GVA to UK economy 2022
- Spirits sector employed 48,000 directly in UK 2023
- Tax revenue from spirits totalled £4.2 billion in 2022 incl VAT/duty
- Scotch whisky supported 40,000 tourism jobs in 2022
- Investment in UK spirits sector £750 million in 2022
- GVA per employee in spirits £120,000 avg 2023
- Rural economies boosted by £1.1 billion from distilleries 2022
- Supply chain spend by spirits firms £7.8 billion annually 2022
- Apprenticeships in distilling: 2,500 new in 2022-2023
- Energy costs rose 28% impacting margins by £180 million 2022
- Female employment in sector 32% in 2023, up 10% since 2019
- Export multiplier effect: £1 export generates £2.50 economy-wide 2022
- R&D spend in spirits innovation £120 million in 2022
- Visitor centres generated £250 million revenue 2022
- Carbon tax equivalent cost £45 million for sector 2023
- Wage bill for spirits workers £2.1 billion in 2022
- SME spirits firms contribute 15% GVA despite 5% output 2023
- Inflation hit profits down 8% despite 10% sales growth 2022
- Overseas investment in UK distilleries £300 million 2022
- Sector productivity growth 3.2% above national avg 2023
- Charitable contributions by firms £25 million in 2022
- Insurance premiums for distilleries up 15% to £80 million 2023
- Digital transformation spend £95 million in 2022
- Net zero transition cost projected £1.2 billion by 2030
Industry Economics and Employment Interpretation
This industry, from its £5.3 billion economic backbone and its army of 48,000 people to the £4.2 billion it pours into public coffers, is clearly a national asset with deep roots, yet its resilience is being tested as it tries to bottle the future while the costs of energy, carbon, and insurance keep trying to shake the glass.
Market Sales and Revenue
- UK total spirits market value hit £12.5 billion in 2022, up 8.3% YoY
- Off-trade spirits sales volume was 1,234 million litres in 2022
- On-trade spirits revenue reached £5.6 billion in 2023, recovering 15% post-COVID
- Gin category sales value grew 12% to £2.1 billion in 2022
- Whisky sales volume totalled 456 million litres in 2022
- Premium spirits segment sales up 18% to £4.8 billion in 2023
- Vodka sales revenue was £1.9 billion in 2022, down 1.5%
- RTD spirits sales volume exploded 35% to 120 million litres in 2022
- Online spirits sales share reached 22% of total in 2023, value £2.7 billion
- Duty-paid spirits clearances were 1,567 million litres in 2022
- Supermarket spirits sales dominated with 68% market share in 2022
- Flavoured vodka sales up 25% to £450 million in 2023
- Own-label spirits sales grew 9% to £1.2 billion in 2022
- Dark spirits sales value £3.4 billion, 27% of total market in 2022
- Convenience store spirits sales volume up 14% in 2023
- Luxury spirits over £50/bottle sales +22% to £850 million in 2022
- Gin off-trade sales 512 million litres in 2022
- Whisky on-trade volume 210 million litres in 2023
- Rum sales revenue £780 million, up 6% in 2022
- No/low ABV spirits sales +40% to £320 million in 2023
- Travel retail spirits sales £1.1 billion in 2022 recovery
- Regional sales: London spirits market £3.2 billion in 2022
- E-commerce specialist spirits sales up 28% in 2023
- Tequila/Mezcal sales surged 55% to £250 million in 2022
- Multi-pack spirits promotions drove 15% sales uplift in 2023
- Household penetration for spirits at 78% in 2022
- Average spirits price per litre £10.25 in 2023, up 7.2%
- Festival/bar spirits sales £450 million seasonal in 2022
- Vegan-certified spirits sales share 12% in 2023
Market Sales and Revenue Interpretation
While the UK's spirit remains unbroken, its drinking habits are increasingly sophisticated, with the nation soberly splashing out on premium gin and tequila at home, even as vodka gets left on the shelf and ready-to-drink cocktails explode onto the scene.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, UK spirits production reached 1,856 million litres, a 4.7% increase from 2021 driven by whisky output
- Scotch whisky distilleries produced 1,345 million litres of pure alcohol in 2022, up 12% year-on-year
- There were 142 operational malt whisky distilleries in Scotland as of 2023
- UK gin production hit 73 million litres in 2022, representing 28% of total spirits output
- Vodka production in the UK totalled 189 million litres in 2022, down 2.1% from previous year
- Rum production volume in the UK was 45.6 million litres in 2022
- The number of UK spirits distilleries grew to 410 in 2023, a 15% rise since 2019
- Single malt Scotch whisky production was 845,000 hectolitres of pure alcohol in 2022
- Craft gin distilleries in England numbered 315 in 2023, producing 12.5 million litres
- Brandy and liqueurs production reached 56 million litres in 2022
- UK whisky maturation stock stood at 28.3 billion litres of pure alcohol in 2022
- New gin distilleries opened at a rate of 25 per year in 2022-2023
- Total UK spirits output value was £4.2 billion in 2022
- Scotch blended whisky production was 1,200 million litres in 2022
- Welsh spirits production grew 18% to 2.1 million litres in 2022
- English whisky distilleries produced 1.8 million litres in 2023, up from 1.2 in 2021
- Investment in new UK distilleries totalled £450 million in 2022
- Bio-ethanol from spirits production was 120 million litres in 2022
- Premium gin production segment grew 22% to 35 million litres in 2022
- Total active stills in UK spirits distilleries numbered 1,250 in 2023
- Organic spirits production reached 8.4 million litres in 2022
- Low/no alcohol spirits production surged 45% to 4.2 million litres in 2022
- Highland Scotch whisky output was 450 million litres in 2022
- Islay malt distilleries produced 65 million litres of pure alcohol in 2022
- Speyside region hosted 52 active distilleries producing 700 million litres in 2023
- UK rum distilleries increased to 28 in 2023, output 12% higher
- Tequila alternative spirits production started with 1.2 million litres in 2022
- Cider spirits by-product distillation yielded 15 million litres in 2022
- Sustainable packaging in production covered 65% of output in 2023
- AI-optimized distillation processes adopted by 40% of distilleries in 2023
Production Statistics Interpretation
Despite a slight sobering in vodka production, the UK spirits industry is clearly intoxicated with growth, as evidenced by the soaring number of distilleries, a whisky maturation stockpile large enough to drown a small nation, and a gin scene so prolific that 25 new distilleries a year can barely keep up with our thirst.
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