UK vodka sales set to fall by 2016

Despite being the UK’s most popular spirit, vodka consumption in the UK is forecast to decline over the next five years, according to a study by Vinexpo.

Vodka is the highest-selling spirit in the UK, but consumption is due to fall

The figures suggest Britain’s consumption of the spirit, which currently stands at 108 million bottles (9 million cases), is set to fall 4% by 2016.

Globally, vodka sales are set to increase 1.56% by 2016 after falling 4.93% between 2007 and 2011.

Robert Beynat, CEO of Vinexpo, said: “The data reveals how UK drinkers are changing their behaviour.”

Scotch whisky will also see consumption in the UK fall from 74 million bottles (6.2 million cases) to 67 million bottles (5.6 million cases) over the same period.

Beynat added: “While Scotch whisky consumption will fall, sales overseas are booming and set to rise over the next five years.”

The US, the UK and France are the world’s top consumers of Scotch whisky and in spite of the fall in the UK, worldwide sales are predicted to rise 12% by 2016, reaching 1.2 billion bottles (99.4 million cases).

Gin consumption in the UK is also set to drop by 2% to 29 million bottles (2.4 million cases) after peaking at nearly 30 million bottles (2.49 million cases).

Contrastingly, rum and Bourbon are both set to increase their UK sales over the coming years. Forecasters predict sales of rum will increase by almost 3% while Bourbon is set to grow more than 9%.