Off-trade

24% of UK consumers buy alcohol online now

Under lockdown with its pubs, bars and restaurants closed, almost a quarter (24%) of the UK population have been buying alcohol online over the last two weeks – and more plan to do so in the weeks to come according to new research from specialist food and drink insight provider  there CGA.
Among those buying drink online, 40% ordered wine.

Among those buying drink online, 40% ordered wine.

A recent snap consumer poll by CGA revealed that 6% of people had ordered online more often than usual, another 5% had bought online for the first time and a further 16% planned to do so in the coming weeks.

The research showed that the public has also become more focused on health and wellness as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, with two thirds (66%) of adults saying they’re now taking precautions to protect their long-term health such as changing what they eat and drink and how frequently they exercise.

Consumers also report drinking less alcohol than before the outbreak with nearly half (42%) saying they’re drinking less alcohol than usual and only 14% increasing their alcohol consumption.

The number of occasions that people are drinking alcohol is also being affected, states CGA, with 16% of drinkers stating that they’re partaking more often than usual, but with 37% saying they’re drinking fewer times per week than before.

The type of drink that people are purchasing is also changing, with spirits – especially gin and whiskey – gaining in popularity. Among those buying drink online, 40% ordered wine – the top choice, with lager coming next followed by gin.

“In a pub and bar environment, cider would usually come in third, but in the online world it has slipped back,” said  Jonny Jones, CGA’s Director of Client Services, “The big winner, however, seems to be whiskey, which is the fourth most popular category for online purchases but in a pub or bar would normally be back in ninth place

“The challenge for the on-trade will be whether these new habits persist when pubs and bars eventually reopen after the crisis, or whether the public will go back to old preferences,” he added.

 

Figures are based on survey of over 500 GB adults, nationally representative of the GB population, conducted on the weekend of March 28-29. 

 

 


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