Tuesday, 2 June, 2026
The Drinks Business, Jessica Mason
The findings, which were outlined by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) in its Sip 2 Report, were based on NIQ sales data and revealed notable trends in the alcohol sector. According to the report, RTDs are one of the few alcohol categories experiencing growth and the category grew by 12% in volume and 17% in value from a year ago, generating £704 million in sales in the off-trade.
Growth in ‘range and popularity’
RTDs, which includes spirits and mixers, canned cocktails, bottled cocktails and hard seltzers, is growing in both “range and popularity” with pre-mixed drinks having “established itself as an alcohol category in its own right, offering convenience, a smaller serve and wide flavour range”.
The data identified the fact that the spirits category, in the off trade, lost just under £40 million in sales overall in the three months up to 3 January 2026, compared to the previous year. However, it also highlighted how “in contrast 44% of RTD sales came from consumers shifting their spend from buying spirits”.
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