Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) Market Report 2026

The drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $158.74 billion in 2025 to $163.53 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to urban nightlife culture, alcohol consumption habits, social entertainment demand, tourism growth, disposable income increase.

The drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $190.32 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to premiumization of beverages, experiential dining trends, cashless payment adoption, tourism recovery, regulatory standardization. Major trends in the forecast period include craft beverage popularity, premium cocktail experiences, digital ordering and payments, sustainable bar operations, experiential nightlife concepts.

Rising alcohol consumption is expected to drive the growth of the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market in the coming years. Alcohol consumption refers to the intake of beverages that contain ethyl alcohol. Bars and pubs play an important role in providing safe and social environments where people can gather, socialize, and consume alcoholic drinks responsibly. As alcohol consumption increases, demand for drinking places such as bars and pubs also rises, supporting higher sales and footfall. For example, in November 2025, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a France-based non-profit organization, reported that in 2023 the average per capita annual alcohol consumption across OECD countries was 8.5 liters of pure alcohol. Additionally, in 2023, an average of 27% of individuals aged 15 and above across the 27 OECD countries reported engaging in heavy episodic drinking at least once a month during the previous year. Therefore, increasing alcohol consumption is driving the expansion of the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market.

Major companies operating in the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market are focusing on introducing technological innovations, such as age verification technology, to enhance customer experience and gain a competitive advantage. Age verification technology is software designed to confirm a customer’s age and restrict access to age-sensitive products or services. For instance, in May 2023, Amazon.com Inc., a US-based online retailer and technology provider, introduced Amazon One for age verification in drinking places. This palm-recognition payment system allows eligible customers to purchase alcohol by simply waving their hand, with the age verification feature reducing friction for legally eligible buyers. During verification, customers hover their palm over an Amazon One device, which confirms their age and displays a “21+” message along with the customer’s uploaded selfie on the screen.

In April 2023, HEINEKEN N.V., a Netherlands-based brewing and beverage company, acquired Distell Group Holdings Limited and Namibia Breweries Limited for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, HEINEKEN aims to strengthen its footprint in Southern Africa, broaden its multi-category alcoholic beverage portfolio, and enhance support for bars, taverns, and local businesses through initiatives such as the Tavern Transformation programme. Distell Group Holdings Limited is a South Africa-based alcoholic beverages company, while Namibia Breweries Limited is a Namibia-based brewery and beverage producer.

Major companies operating in the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market are Boadas Cocktails, Kings Head Pub, Attaboy Holdings Ltd., Floreria Atlantico, Hakkasan Group Ltd., J D Wetherspoon plc, Licoreria Limantour, McKs Tavern Co., Mitchells And Butlers plc, Public Call Office, The Atlas Bar Inc., The Cats Eye Pub, Trailer Happiness, The Dead Rabbit Grocery And Grog, American Social Bar And Kitchen, Yard House USA Inc., Hard Rock Cafe International, The Alchemist Bars Limited, BrewDog Bars, Revolution Bars Group.

Europe was the largest region in the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market in 2025. The regions covered in the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The drinking places (alcoholic beverages) market includes revenues earned by entities by providing martinis, manhattans, mojitos, margaritas and different types of food alongside alcoholic and other mixed alcoholic drinks. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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