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U.S. households spent an average of $630 on alcohol in 2025, down from $643 in 2024, and alcohol purchases accounted for a record-low 0.77% of household spending, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other developments in VinePair’s weekly roundup include EU approval of Chianti rosé, a dispute over a $6.57 million distribution-company payment, and new acquisitions, investments and product releases.
U.S. households spent an average of $630 on alcohol in 2025, down from $643 the year before, and alcohol purchases made up a record-low 0.77% of average household spending, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey. The figures lead a weekly beverage-industry roundup from VinePair that also covers the EU’s approval of Chianti rosé, a dispute between alcohol distributors and several company and product developments.
The BLS survey figures show a 2% year-over-year decline in average household alcohol spending, from $643 in 2024 to $630 in 2025. The data describe household expenditure; they do not, on their own, explain why spending fell or indicate how much alcohol households consumed.
In wine policy, the European Union approved a change recognizing rosé as a category within Chianti, the large and popular wine subregion in Tuscany. The approval is part of a broader overhaul of production rules. The changes also lower the minimum Sangiovese share required for a wine to qualify as a Chianti blend, according to VinePair.
On the distribution side, National Wine and Spirits filed a complaint seeking to stop Republic National Distributing Company from paying $6.57 million to its parent company. The money stems from the sale of a Kentucky joint venture to KEG 1 Kentucky after RNDC withdrew. NWS says RNDC damaged the venture and argues it is entitled to part of the proceeds; those assertions are allegations, not findings established by the material provided.
Spending Data and Industry Stakes
The expenditure figure offers a measure of how alcohol purchases fit into household budgets, but it should not be mistaken for a direct measure of drinking. The reported share fell to 0.77% of average household spending; the survey summary does not identify whether that reflected changing prices, purchasing habits, household incomes or another factor.
The other developments point to changes across different parts of the drinks business. The EU decision changes the rules governing Chianti wine styles, while the NWS complaint could affect how proceeds from a former distribution venture are divided. Corporate investment and acquisitions, meanwhile, show continuing activity among beverage companies, although the roundup does not establish what those moves mean for prices or market share.
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The Week’s Other Drinks Moves
VinePair’s roundup also reported that Sazerac bought Oregon brewery Full Sail Brewing for an undisclosed sum and began a $605 million project to expand four Kentucky distilleries. The moves come in a year when Sazerac also acquired ready-to-drink brands Dirty Shirley and Au Vodka and made a $15 billion bid to acquire Brown-Forman. The source describes the bid but does not provide an outcome.
Another major transaction in the roundup was DoorDash’s announced agreement to buy Instacart for $17 billion, valuing Instacart shares at $65 each. For consumers and the alcohol trade, delivery platforms can shape how groceries and drinks reach customers, but the roundup does not say whether or how the deal would affect alcohol sales or delivery.
The product news included The Macallan’s fifth and final A Night on Earth single malt, honoring New Orleans, with a suggested retail price of $125. WhistlePig announced a limited-edition 12-year rye finished in former maple syrup barrels for $124.99. Tears of Llorona is set to release a five-year extra añejo tequila, Hills of Los Altos, for $279.99 in limited quantities.
“Average U.S. household spending on alcohol was $630 in 2025, and alcohol purchases accounted for 0.77% of average household spending.”
— Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey, as reported by VinePair
What the Figures and Dispute Do Not Show
The roundup does not explain the causes of the spending decline or provide enough detail to determine whether households bought less alcohol, paid different prices, or changed what they purchased. The 0.77% figure is a share of spending, not a measure of consumption.
The outcome of NWS’s complaint is also unclear: the available information does not state whether a court has acted on the request to block the payment. The source gives no further details on the EU rule’s implementation schedule, or on the status of DoorDash’s proposed Instacart acquisition. Sazerac’s Brown-Forman bid is described as a bid, with no result reported.
Pending Decisions and New Releases
Further developments to watch include any court response to NWS’s effort to stop the $6.57 million payment, and the implementation of the revised Chianti production rules. The provided roundup does not give dates for either milestone.
The named spirits releases have stated suggested prices and availability: The Macallan’s final A Night on Earth installment is available online and at its estate boutique; WhistlePig’s limited-edition rye is offered online and at select retailers, bars and restaurants; and Tears of Llorona’s tequila is expected later in the month in limited quantities. The source does not specify the month or provide updated availability.
Key Questions
How much did the average U.S. household spend on alcohol in 2025?
The average was $630, down from $643 in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey as reported by VinePair.
What does the 0.77% figure measure?
It is the share of average household spending accounted for by alcohol purchases in 2025. It is not a measure of alcohol consumption.
What did the EU approve for Chianti?
The EU approved rosé as a recognized Chianti category as part of wider rule changes that also lowered the minimum Sangiovese share for Chianti blends.
Why is National Wine and Spirits challenging a payment to RNDC’s parent company?
NWS says it is entitled to part of the proceeds from the sale of a former Kentucky distribution joint venture and alleges RNDC damaged the venture. The complaint’s outcome is not reported.
Source: vinepair.com
