WASHINGTON—More than half of Millennials (62%) and Gen Z adults (52%) report they would be more likely to choose a restaurant for takeout if they could include alcoholic beverages, according to a new report from the National Restaurant Association. Casual dining leads the way in off-premises options, with nearly all restaurants that serve alcohol including it as a takeout offering (90%) and over a quarter (26%) with their third-party delivery offerings.

More than half (54%) of delivery customers state that the availability of alcoholic beverages would make them more likely to choose a restaurant. However, despite the desire and the growing number of states extending or making to-go options for restaurants permanent, only one-quarter of adults who opted for takeout or delivery from a restaurant during the last six months included an alcoholic beverage in the order.

Earlier this year, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) reported that after 13 years of gains, spirits have overtaken beer in total U.S. sales. Premixed cocktails (including ready-to-drink products) were the fastest growing category, increasing 35.8% in 2022 to $2.2 billion in revenue.

“Cocktail Hour” in the March 2022 issue of NACS Magazine reported that 30.2% of c-stores sold spirits in 2020, accounting for $44,348 in sales per store.

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