Despite Bleak Economic News, 2008 Was a Positive Year for Beverage Alcohol Sales...

Despite Bleak Economic News, 2008 Was a Positive Year for Beverage Alcohol
Sales and Consumption

Just released: Full report on U.S. sales and consumption of 2008 distilled
spirits, wine and beer and 2009 category forecasts.

NORWALK, Conn., March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Overall consumption of distilled
spirits, wine and beer rose in 2008, however, the rate of growth in each
category was less than recent years, according to data in the Handbook Advance
2009 published by The Beverage Information Group. Last year's growth came from
atypical segments within each beverage alcohol category, which is a direct
result of the U.S. economic downturn.

The trend toward consumers trading up to premium brands, a key factor to
growth in all three beverage alcohol segments over the past several years, was
markedly slower last year. The growth spots in 2008 came from the off-premise
consumption of value-priced spirits, beer and wine. Categories to take the
largest hit in 2008 were imported beer and wine. Beer imports went from
growing 12% in 2006 to 2.8% in 2007 to a 1.2% decline last year. Among the
domestic categories, Lights remain a bright spot. In 2008, the category grew
another 2.2% and now represents 51.8% of the entire beer market. Wine imports
posted an aggregate decline of 1.7% in 2008 due to the effects of the
recessionary environment, the weak value of the U.S. dollar and the grape
surplus in Australia. While overall wine imports decreased, there were pockets
of positive momentum among smaller importing countries like Argentina, Chile
and New Zealand.

The Beverage Information Group's Handbook Advance delivers the beverage
industry's earliest forecasts and the most comprehensive report on last year's
sales and consumption of distilled spirits, wine and beer. Handbook Advance
data shows which brands were up and which were down last year, which brands
were supported by advertising dollars, on- and off-premise category trends,
how the international landscape performed, consumption and sales forecasts,
and much more.

The cost of the handbook is $845; handbook with CD is $1,015. Shipping and
handling is $10 for U.S. and Canadian orders, $20 for international orders.
The Handbook Advance can be purchased at www.beveragehandbooks.com or by
calling Cynthia Porter at (630) 762-8709.

Contacts:
The Beverage Information Group
Eric Schmidt, manager of information services
eschmidt@m2media360.com

Cynthia Porter, Handbook sales
(630) 762-8709
cporter@m2media360.com
www.beveragehandbooks.com

SOURCE The Beverage Information Group

The Beverage Information Group, Eric Schmidt, manager of information services,
eschmidt@m2media360.com; or Cynthia Porter, Handbook sales, +1-630-762-8709,
cporter@m2media360.com